Equipment on Field

Question
This question came up this weekend. I understand the ruling on a batted ball making contact with a bat but what is the call if a thrown ball hits the bat. Granted the catcher or umpire should be removing the bat but occassionally that doesn't happen.  Couple of scenarios.
1. Bat is sitting near the batters box and there is a play at home throw comes in and hits the bat. Live Ball? Interference?
2. Catcher throws bat away from field of play and there is a throw home that is off the mark and hits the bat and allows runners to take extra bases. Now defensive player has moved equipment.  
3. Bats are outside of the dugout (not being) used and throw hits offensive equipment outside of dugout with runners advancing. Pretty sure its obvious offensive interference but what offensive player is penalized, closest to home or batter-runner?

Sorry for the long winded question.

Josh

Answer
Hi Josh,

"Granted the catcher or umpire should be removing the bat"

the catcher can move it if they want to but an umpire never should.  Not because of any book rule but because they have to take their eyes off the field to do that.  It is NEVER a good idea for an umpire even momentarily to take their eyes off a live ball situation.

1. "Bat is sitting near the batters box and there is a play at home throw comes in and hits the bat."

Live ball, play continues, bat is part of the field in this instance.

2. "Catcher throws bat away from field of play and there is a throw home that is off the mark and hits the bat and allows runners to take extra bases. Now defensive player has moved equipment."

As long as the catcher does not intentionally throw the bat in a effort to contact the ball, live ball, play continues.

3. "Bats are outside of the dugout (not being) used and throw hits offensive equipment outside of dugout with runners advancing. Pretty sure its obvious offensive interference but what offensive player is penalized, closest to home or batter-runner?"

This is different, as is a blocked ball, not interference.  We have a dead ball and runners return to the last base touched at the time of the blocked ball.  If the blocked ball prevented the defense from making an out, the runner being played on is out.

Mark