Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Dave Reed
First, all three of the major rule codes (Official Baseball Rules, which probably is the basis for the rules used in Mustangs, NCAA rules, and NFHS, which are used by high schools in most states) require all fielders except the catcher to be in fair territory when the ball is pitched.
|
While I realize that this rule is not usually enforced strictly, I thought the requirement (at least in OBR 4.03 and J/R 26.II.C (9th ed., p. 181)) was only in effect at the time the ball is put in play.
As a note, J/R does
suggest a balk as the penalty for a fielder violating this rule and becoming involved in a play (same page, suggested penalization (b) & (c)), and that a fielder who refuses to go to fair territory when instructed by the umpire may be ejected, but goes on to say that there is no violation if the fielder is in fair territory when the ball is put in play, then leaves it afterward.
None of that is actually in the OBR, of course.
All that said, time to get out of books and onto an actual ballfield!
Regards,
Andrew