[mick]

Originally posted by LDUB

No it is not a stupid rule, it is a great rule. The Federation does not want officials to have to decide what would have happned had the ball not been called foul.

LDUB,

2005 SITUATION 3: With one out and a 1-1 count, the batter hits a high fly ball in left field near the foul line. The umpire declares “Foul Ball” as the fly ball is subsequently caught by the left fielder. RULING: Once the umpire verbally declares “Foul Ball,” the ball is dead and treated as foul ball. The batter will return to bat with a 1-2 count and still one out. (5-1-1h) We would need bigger crews, a committee perhaps to decide if this should be an out or a strike ???

2005 SITUATION 4: With the bases empty, the batter hits a long fly ball down the left-field line that easily goes over the outfield fence. With the sun in his eyes, the plate umpire initially declares “Foul Ball,” but then realizes he made a mistake, that the ball did indeed go over the fence in flight in fair territory. RULING: The umpire may reverse his call and declare a home run. The ball is dead because it left the field by going over the fence in flight, not because the umpire declared, “Foul Ball.” (10-2-1l, 5-1-1f-4, 8-3-3a) Fed cannot even come up with situations or cases to make the rule even loosely resemble competence !!!

mick