A major question is looming over college baseball right now that I'm not sure enough fans are asking themselves, and it is this: Why the hell aren't these kids allowed to have any fun?
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Over the last few seasons, I've noticed more and more that umpire are ejecting players for simply celebrating — bat-flips, yelling, whatever it may be. The 2024 season is still young, but we've seen some pretty glaring examples of this quick-trigger atrociousness from the umps.
In Florida's matchup against Miami on Sunday, UF's Tyler Shelnut was ejected after hitting a home run and carrying the bat halfway down the first-base line before flipping it into the air.
Tyler Shelnut was ejected for carrying his bat down the 1st base line and then flipping it. pic.twitter.com/NGREIyLOXW
— 11Point7 College Baseball (@11point7) March 3, 2024
The weekend before that, Grand Canyon's Tyler Wilson was tossed for bat-flipping after a game-tying grand slam.
💥 𝐓𝐘𝐋𝐄𝐑 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄-𝐓𝐘𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐈. 💥
We're tied at eight! @TyWilson44 pic.twitter.com/85ps62lsiX
— Grand Canyon Baseball (@GCU_Baseball) February 25, 2024
And a week before that, Hawaii's Jordan Donahue drew a walk, gave himself some positive encouragement and politely flipped his bat before the home plate umpire sent him to the showers early.
Hawaii’s Jordan Donahue was ejected after drawing a walk in a close game in the 8th inning 👀 pic.twitter.com/P3mPT0dTHw
— js9innings (@js9inningsmedia) February 18, 2024
These ejections have become embarrassing for the NCAA, whose only job recently seems to be sucking the fun out of everything. It's gotten to the point where players can't express any emotion without fear of ejection, which is obviously not ideal for fans.
What's really unfortunate about these ejections is that they're judgment calls by the umpire. According to the NCAA's 2024 baseball rulebook, players may not "distract, intimidate or disconcert the opposing team or reflect poor sportsmanship," which includes making negative comments toward opposing players and bat-flipping, among other things.
If that's the case, then why wasn't South Carolina star Ethan Petry ejected for making a comment to Clemson's third baseman after hitting a ninth-inning home run this weekend?
Petry had something to say after 9th inning HR 👀 pic.twitter.com/1OkoOZulHH
— 11Point7 College Baseball (@11point7) March 3, 2024
The rules are clearly inconsistent — and it's all bogus, if you ask me. If a pitcher can't handle witnessing a hitter bat-flip against him, he should reconsider that fastball location. If a hitter who worked a pivotal walk can't yell in celebration without it being seen as disconcerting the pitcher, then what are we even doing here?
These ejections, which are stupid and fun-sucking, may not even be following the rulebook all the time, either. According to the rules, a warning must be given to the offending player first before an ejection is warranted. Take a look for yourself:
Screenshot from NCAA baseball rulebook.
I understand these rules may be a way to keep games from getting too emotional or out of hand at times, but right now they are just killing the product on the field.
What's next? Clapping from the dugout must be under a certain decibel level? Mandatory handshakes between opposing players at first base?
Bat-flips aren't dangerous, and neither is a little back-and-forth chirping between rivals. Let the kids play.
