Chin music

Typically you won’t see a pitcher intentionally throw a ball at the hitter in baseball, but sometimes one tends to wonder when a little “chin music” is applied.

I can understand brushing back the hitter from the plate, but as an umpire and a catcher, I can tell you there is a very fine line when this happens. Keep in mind, this is a book rule, but it is a judgment applied. Experience is always the best teacher and this situation is proof of that.

Let’s get into the rule:

Rule 8.02(d) states as follows:

The pitcher shall not intentionally pitch at the batter. If, in the umpire’s judgment, such a violation occurs, the umpire may elect either to:

Expel the pitcher, or the manager and the pitcher, from the game, or

may warn the pitcher and the manager of both teams that another such pitch will result in the immediate expulsion of that pitcher (or a replacement) and the manager.

If, in the umpire’s judgment, circumstances warrant, both teams may be officially “warned” prior to the game or at any time during the game.

Rule 8.02(d) Comment: ... To pitch at a batter’s head is unsportsmanlike and highly dangerous. It should be - and is - condemned by everybody. Umpires should act without hesitation in enforcement of this rule.

As the Rule itself implies, the first question is whether a pitch was intentionally thrown at a batter. Rule 8.02(d) does not apply in the absence of such intent. Whether the pitch was intentional or not is up to the umpire’s judgment. In exercising their judgment, umpires have been instructed to be mindful that, given the skill level of most pitchers, a pitch that is thrown at the head of a hitter more likely than not was thrown there intentionally. I was trained to keep this in mind, whether a pitch was intentional.

Once Rule 8.02(d) is found to be applicable (because an umpire has determined in his judgment that a pitch was intentionally thrown at a batter) an umpire has two options: eject or warn the appropriate persons (the pitcher or the manager and the pitcher). Rule 8.02(d) does not give the umpire the discretion to allow the opposing pitcher an opportunity to retaliate in before the warning or ejection. Nor does the Rule mandate, even in an instance where a pitcher has intentionally thrown at the head of a hitter, that the pitcher must be ejected.

The two options the umpire has in this situation, under Rule 8.02(d) is at the discretion of the umpire. Experience will teach you to be aware of the game’s circumstances. If the game is intense and tight, then chances are this situation may happen to “intimidate” the hitter, thus, playing the mental game. To me, this is a part of baseball.

I watch the pitcher. If his control is solid during the game then in tight spots he gets nervous and the ball floats, it might be considered different than intentionally throwing at the batter. But if in my judgment he is intentionally throwing at the batter, I will remove the pitcher immediately, followed by the coach or whoever else supports this “bush” league action.