From what I understand, Gordon College's baseball coach had not offered the catcher a scholarship but rather "preferred walk on" status this fall. The young man still retains an academic scholarship offer at Gordon College (graduated w/3.5 GPA).
Still wondering why nothing was done to the pitcher? The catcher is graduating so there's not much the HS can do to him, but the pitcher returns next year. Hard to believe no suspension of some sort. Final chapter to be played out is if any legal action will be taken by the ump/umpire association.
From wsbtv.com
quote:Gordon College has withdrawn its offer to the catcher.
quote:The players and their coach still insist there was a mix-up on the pitch.
quote:Scott ( the umpire ) said the pitch did injure him. "I'm currently under a doctor's care and I'm still waiting for all the results to be evaluated."
quote:Originally posted by S. Abrams:
Still wondering why nothing was done to the pitcher? The catcher is graduating so there's not much the HS can do to him, but the pitcher returns next year. Hard to believe no suspension of some sort. Final chapter to be played out is if any legal action will be taken by the ump/umpire association.
Well, perhaps (probably)the pitcher knew that the catcher didn't intend to block the pitch, but in reality the pitcher did nothing out of the ordinary. Pitches with that trajectory are frequently seen in high school games.
Consider a different and more common situation: when a batter gets hit, it is the pitcher's responsibility. The pitcher and coach/manager may be ejected, but not the catcher, even though he may have called for a middle finger fastball.
Conversely, if an umpire is hit, it is primarly the catcher's responsibility. He's the one player on the field that can prevent it.
So suspend the pitcher for what? Conspiracy? In that case, suspend all the underclassmen, because afer 9 consecutive strikeouts, the umpire wasn't probably wasn't getting favorable reviews from anybody on the team.
I don't see how that could be even considered a legit mix-up.
That duo needs to work on their routine if they want to move from vaudeville to the silver screen.
Hope these guys didn't run anyone down with their cars after the game & claim that it was a mix-up with the stoplight.
That duo needs to work on their routine if they want to move from vaudeville to the silver screen.
Hope these guys didn't run anyone down with their cars after the game & claim that it was a mix-up with the stoplight.
Definitely on purpose. This happened in one of our games a couple weeks ago. The catcher let one through on purpose and it hit the ump in the leg. Way to disgrace the game.
3Finger,
Conspiracy sounds good to me...yeah, I know they'll never prove it. Maybe the old "guilt by association" thing would fly until the lawyers/ACLU got involved.
Just before this pitch happened, a meeting at the mound between the catcher, pitcher and SS took place (SS has been the 9th strikeout; brother of pitcher). We'll never truly know what was said unless one of the 3 rolls over and talks. Catcher will take the fall by himself.
Coaches and crowd had been on ump's case all afternoon. You're right about the overall perception he was getting from the team. problem is the team didn't swing the bats while the other team took the ump out of the equation by taking their hacks at the plate and scoring runs.
I showed my son the video (HS catcher) and told him if I ever SUSPECTED he intentionally did something like this, he wouldn't have to worry about coaches or the HS Athletic Assoc. because I would personally walk out on the field and pull him off while putting my foot where the sun don't shine. As an ex-catcher, I'll admit to calling for inside pitches and throwing at a hitters knees (never above the waist and never in HS) on occasion, but umps are off limits.....except for the verbal arguing.
The GHSA did put the school unders a "severe" warning of some sort based on this incident and others that took place during the game. What that means in English I don't know; supposedly further problems could result in suspensions of the program itself. Highly doubtful that would happen.
Conspiracy sounds good to me...yeah, I know they'll never prove it. Maybe the old "guilt by association" thing would fly until the lawyers/ACLU got involved.
Just before this pitch happened, a meeting at the mound between the catcher, pitcher and SS took place (SS has been the 9th strikeout; brother of pitcher). We'll never truly know what was said unless one of the 3 rolls over and talks. Catcher will take the fall by himself.
Coaches and crowd had been on ump's case all afternoon. You're right about the overall perception he was getting from the team. problem is the team didn't swing the bats while the other team took the ump out of the equation by taking their hacks at the plate and scoring runs.
I showed my son the video (HS catcher) and told him if I ever SUSPECTED he intentionally did something like this, he wouldn't have to worry about coaches or the HS Athletic Assoc. because I would personally walk out on the field and pull him off while putting my foot where the sun don't shine. As an ex-catcher, I'll admit to calling for inside pitches and throwing at a hitters knees (never above the waist and never in HS) on occasion, but umps are off limits.....except for the verbal arguing.
The GHSA did put the school unders a "severe" warning of some sort based on this incident and others that took place during the game. What that means in English I don't know; supposedly further problems could result in suspensions of the program itself. Highly doubtful that would happen.
Who was the shortstop/9th K victim?
quote:Originally posted by CADad:
Who was the shortstop/9th K victim?
Hey, try to keep up!
#15 in the draft, going to the Dodgers. (which is why I thought you might have already known.)
Still controversial...
Dodgers' draftee on defensive
My opinions are better left to myself on this one.
Dodgers' draftee on defensive
My opinions are better left to myself on this one.
Looks like the story's got some legs. Over 62,000 hits on YouTube.
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The pitcher quoted in the LA Times article...
44
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The pitcher quoted in the LA Times article...
quote:"It's taken away from our (teams)accomplishment because the media's talking about this one incident,"
44.
Legs indeed. The 6/9/08 AJC Article states that the umpire has retained legal counsel.
And a "truth-is-stranger-than-fiction" note: The batter at the time of "The Pitch" (catcher for Cartersville) and the pitcher of "The Pitch" play on the same summer team, the East Cobb Braves.
And a "truth-is-stranger-than-fiction" note: The batter at the time of "The Pitch" (catcher for Cartersville) and the pitcher of "The Pitch" play on the same summer team, the East Cobb Braves.
Everybody here in Georgia has been talking about what is "fair" punishment for all involved. The question to be answered IMO is what will the punishment be once legal action is taken. Even worse, what could it have been had the umpired suffered an immediate concussion, knocked out, or even worse? I hate it for the kid who lost his walk-on scholarship but he had the opportunity to do the right thing at the right time. He has indeed learned a very valuable lesson. Or has he? I have now learned or heard that he has now been asked to play ball at Middle Jr. College (JUCO). Are you kidding me?! So one coach takes a stand to do what's right by saying "this is wrong", yet another decides he will overlook this and ask the kid to play for them....??? When will we as a nation...a community...start saying to our young people that you made a mistake, here is the punishment now learn and grow from it and don't let it happen again..? I can see this kid or parents now sitting there perhaps with a smug attitude.."well, if that's how they're gonna be, we'll just take our toys since they don't want us and go over here to this sandbox where they want us". Good grief. Where's the lesson learned?!
I'm sorry. I know I am venting and babbling here but for pete sake. It's almost like the kid is being told it's okay, nothing has to come of this serious brain-****.
Want to know what's even more awkward? The batter at the time in the video and the infamous pitcher are now teammates on the same East Cobb team! Go figure!
I'm sorry. I know I am venting and babbling here but for pete sake. It's almost like the kid is being told it's okay, nothing has to come of this serious brain-****.
Want to know what's even more awkward? The batter at the time in the video and the infamous pitcher are now teammates on the same East Cobb team! Go figure!
Just to play Devils advocate…..
What about the pitcher who intentionally nails a batter. How is that much different than this? You see that all the time, a batter hits a home run so the pitcher nails either him or someone else just because. I’m not implying hitting the ump is OK, I think hitting anyone on purpose is wrong.
Another question that comes to me as I think about this situation; if the pitcher was good enough to hit the ump in the face mask on purpose, why was having a bad game? I wish mine could locate that well, after all the catchers mitt is about the same size as an umps mask.
What about the pitcher who intentionally nails a batter. How is that much different than this? You see that all the time, a batter hits a home run so the pitcher nails either him or someone else just because. I’m not implying hitting the ump is OK, I think hitting anyone on purpose is wrong.
Another question that comes to me as I think about this situation; if the pitcher was good enough to hit the ump in the face mask on purpose, why was having a bad game? I wish mine could locate that well, after all the catchers mitt is about the same size as an umps mask.
The difference is the umpire is depending on (trusting) the catcher to stop/block/divert a ball that is thrown directly at him. A batter is facing a ball that should be thrown over the plate which is in front of him. I'm not saying that throwing at a batter is the right thing to so. The thing is a batter can get out of the way, an umpire is trained to stay in there to make a call.
(so) What happens if that trust is broken? This is one reason I'm appalled that there have not been further action. Imagine being an umpire behind that catcher? Are you going to pull out every time you see a fastball? What kind of calls do you think the plate umpire is going to be able to make if he is wondering about the kid? Same thing for the pitcher in question. And really for the coach as well. What is he teaching his guys?
There is a big risk with being an umpire - those foul tips are painful. Getting hit full face by a coordinated effort by two punks shouldn't be one of them.
*should mention at this point that my husband is an umpire.
(so) What happens if that trust is broken? This is one reason I'm appalled that there have not been further action. Imagine being an umpire behind that catcher? Are you going to pull out every time you see a fastball? What kind of calls do you think the plate umpire is going to be able to make if he is wondering about the kid? Same thing for the pitcher in question. And really for the coach as well. What is he teaching his guys?
There is a big risk with being an umpire - those foul tips are painful. Getting hit full face by a coordinated effort by two punks shouldn't be one of them.
*should mention at this point that my husband is an umpire.
quote:Originally posted by 55mom:
(so) What happens if that trust is broken? This is one reason I'm appalled that there have not been further action. Imagine being an umpire behind that catcher? Are you going to pull out every time you see a fastball? What kind of calls do you think the plate umpire is going to be able to make if he is wondering about the kid? Same thing for the pitcher in question. And really for the coach as well. What is he teaching his guys?
Exactly.
There would appear to be enough blame to go around here. Lots of opportunity for "step up". Who did....Parents? Players? Coaches? Administration? School district? Atheltic association? State?...
44.
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quote:There is a big risk with being an umpire - those foul tips are painful. Getting hit full face by a coordinated effort by two punks shouldn't be one of them.
Exactly. This is why they should be brought up on criminal charges with the possibility of facing jail time.
Some of you may want to read Rick Reilly's take on "The Pitch" onESPN.com.
Assuming it was on purpose I ask the question why?
That ball is hard to follow. If you watch the video it almost looks like the ball hits the batters helmet and then hits the umpire. It might just be the angle. The umpire doesn't look hurt at all. The crowd reaction is strange too like everyone has seen it before, they even clap. Was that the opposing team side? I don't think it is right if intentional but will give the players the benefit of doubt (innocent until proven guilty).
The grip is hard to see but it almost looks like a curve or a slider. If he wanted to hit the ump you don't throw a breaking pitch, you throw a fastball. The ball either hits the helmet or has a break. Then look at the umpire. We have all seen an ump take a shot off a foul tip. The umps I have seen really need some time to shake off a shot. Watch the ump, he doesn't seem too phased. If that is a 92 mph fastball the ump would be more concerned with himself than the continuation of the game. The other ump, the coach all look like they aren't concerned. Now there are lawyers involved. We don't know for certain what happened so I would say No a pitcher should never throw at an ump but we honestly don't know what really happened here.
The grip is hard to see but it almost looks like a curve or a slider. If he wanted to hit the ump you don't throw a breaking pitch, you throw a fastball. The ball either hits the helmet or has a break. Then look at the umpire. We have all seen an ump take a shot off a foul tip. The umps I have seen really need some time to shake off a shot. Watch the ump, he doesn't seem too phased. If that is a 92 mph fastball the ump would be more concerned with himself than the continuation of the game. The other ump, the coach all look like they aren't concerned. Now there are lawyers involved. We don't know for certain what happened so I would say No a pitcher should never throw at an ump but we honestly don't know what really happened here.