Expert: Rick Bundy - 5/16/2010

Question
Hi last night I did a game where a pitcher hit three batters in the same game and two in a same  inning. what is the ruling on this to remove the pitcher????Little League Juniors.

Answer
Kim:  Thank you for your question.

The Little League Rule Book, rule 8.02c says:  The pitcher shall not -

Intentionally pitch at the batter.  If in the umpire's judgement, such a violation occurs, the umpire shall warn the pitcher and the manager of the defense that another such pitch will mean immediate expulsion of the pitcher.  If such pitch is repeated, the umpire shall eject the pitcher from the game.


Based on the way the rule is written, it is purely on umpire judgement.  Since they are right there where the action is, they should have a feel for the dynamics of the situation and be able to determine whether it was intentional or not.

The batter does not have to be hit to cause the warning or the ejection.  The umpire just has to feel that it was intentional.

In the situation that you cited, the umpire must have felt that there was no intent.  Doesn't mean there wasn't, it could have been misinterpreted.  

Hope this helps!

Yours in baseball,

Rick