[Always Right]

There is absolutely no way that is was not intentional.

[perez24]

I would say if it were little league maybe not, but it looked like the catcher was intentionally letting it hit the umpire.

[petercooper]

bttt

[caver]

I’m not sure I see what the problem is. When the ump agreed to ref the game, he knows that he can be beamed by the ball. That’s the chance he takes.

[Joe 6-pack]

"The catcher in the incident, Matt Hill, had been invited to walk on for the Gordon College baseball team. The coach of that team has since rescinded the offer."

Good for the coach.

[ClearCase_guy]

The catcher in the incident, Matt Hill, had been invited to walk on for the Gordon College baseball team. The coach of that team has since rescinded the offer.

"Son, you're either afraid of the ball, or else you think it's funny to have the umpire get hit by the pitch. Either way, we don't want you on our team."

[weef]

...put the school's athletics program on severe warning status.

What's next, double secret probation?

[hocndoc]

(Is there any way the Spurs can use this technique on a certain referee?)

[dead]

I was going to say that I'd need to know more about what the catcher said after the game or what possible motivations he might have. It looked possible that he got something in his eye or lost the ball and panicked or something.

Then I saw the following in the comments section. Obviously this guy knows the whole story (and it must be true or the internet wouldn't print it!)

Classless act This was a classless act by a couple of kids who think they are bigger than the game of baseball. From my understanding of the incident from people who were there, these players were upset about the pitcher's brother (shortstop) striking out on a called third strike in the previous inning. This was their way of retaliating against the umpire. It was a blatant act of revenge. When a pitcher and catcher get crossed up, rarely does it ever result in the catcher completely missing the ball.

For those who do not know, this pitch was probably somewhere in the 90 mile per hour range. This pitcher was drafted 15th overall in the draft that occurred yesterday so he is not simply a high school pitcher. He is a "kid" with major league talent and skills.

Kudos to the college that rescinded the catcher's offer. For a college who probably has coaches who have been around the game of baseball their entire lives (and seen pitcher/catcher cross-ups) to so quickly act the way they did should be enough to indicate this act was deliberate.

[edpc]

It looks intentional. There wasn't anything in the story concerning questionable calls or any kind of controversy leading up to it. It would also be helpful to know the game situation. However, the umpire did not appear to be hurt and the fact he's now under a "doctor's care" appears to be a legal ploy. It was nowhere as bad as this (unintentional) recent MLB incident.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tc2wz4QpnPQ&feature=related

[kabar]

Intentional without a doubt. The only question is whether the pitcher was in on it.

[Niteranger68]

This reminds me of the South Park episode where the boys were trying to lose in a baseball tournament so they could enjoy their summer. The problem was that the other teams were better at losing then they were.

[namsman]

I've been an umpire (all levels of Little League) for over 15 years and have seen a lot of pitches that the catcher had a hard time with. I've never, ever seen a catcher duck this way.

It was deliberate. Good on the college coach that rescinded his offer to let this delinquent play on his team.

[rawhide]

Someone reported: “several Atlanta Braves reviewed this video and they all said it was intentional.”

[trillabodilla]

place mark to watch the video at home