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�...