|
Please cite a source (someplace someone could go and look it up for themselves). That's all I asked for.
From J/R: Eight Fielders on Fair Territory
When any dead ball becomes live, every fielder(other than the catcher) must be completely on fair territory. Other than the pitcher and catcher, a fielder may position himself anywhere on fair territory. No penalty is suggested or mandated for violation of this rule.
This part in red: If any fielder (other than the catcher) is not in fair territory when the ball is put in play by the plate umpire, (c) and a pitch is delivered, the resulting action stands unless the defense gains an advantage attributable to the fielder's illegal positioning. The umpire will make any ruling he feels necessary to nullify the advantage gained by the defense; in doing so he can also allow the offense to accept the play despite some apparent advantage gained. If a pitch is not batted and the catcher throws for a play that in any way involves the fielder in violation of the rule, penalization is applied as in (b) above. ("b" states a balk, ball live unless some runner does not acquire his advance base, whereupon the ball is dead and all runners are awarded one base.)
This is the type of "source" I asked for. And yes, I know this is the author's opinion and it's "unofficial" but it is a source. If you have an "official source" please cite it. Thank you.
|