Throwing the Bat

Question
Hi,

What is the rule in regards to the consequence of a thrown bat from a b or b-r?

Also, is there a difference between if they hit the ball/throw the bat and it goes fair versus if the ball goes foul?

If there is a specific rule, could you please cite it for me as I have a number of umpires who do not agree at all...

Best,
Greg

Thanks so much for all your advice/information!  

Answer
Hi greg,

you're talking to an umpire whose left kneecap was fractured by a thrown bat in a rec coed game after I had previously warned the batter who almost killed the catcher w/ a thrown bat.  I was out over a month and it hurt like hell!

Some orgs such as NCAA have rules that penalize a player for throwing a bat after a warning and I hear they're making it much stronger in 2009, however ASA does not and obviously that's an area I disagree with.  The only thing I can do in ASA is to eject the player for unsportsmanlike-like conduct and that's a last ditch measure.

Mark

ps...I think my knee was throbbing when I first answered this question....I should have included that if the thrown bat prevents the defense from making a play we have interference, batter out and all runners return.  Plus of course a bat thrown in anger results in ejection.