While we are talking about the things that coaches know, I can "one-up" this one.
Two weeks ago I was working a NJCAA game. Infield fly was in effect. The batter hit a Mt. Everest of a pop-up that F5 was camped under standing in foul territory. I call "infield fly batter out if fair," since it was close to the line. At the last minute, a gust of wind blows the ball fair, just over the line, and the fielder juts her glove out to catch the ball, and drops it. I call the batter out. Home coach comes out of the dugout and questions how I could have the out, since the fielder was standing in foul territory when she touched the ball. I agreed that the fielder was indeed in foul territory, but when she first touched the ball, it was in fair territory and the location of the ball was all that mattered in determining fair or foul status. After a brief discussion in which she promised to look up the rule since she knew I was wrong, I informed her that the play would stand. (Nope, this isn't the end of it.)
As I was walking back to take my position behind the plate, I hear the visiting team's coach say to his assistant, "Wow! We got a free out on that one. It should have been a foul ball."
And these are the guys who get paid to "know the game."
Sheesh.
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Scott
It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to have to paint it.
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