Quote:
Originally posted by David Emerling
Quote:
Originally posted by IRISHMAFIA
I did see an umpire rule the way you suggest at a National a few years back. It was a soft humpback to F4 with bases loaded, no outs. The defender took two steps in reverse and trapped the ball to the ground when it got below his knees. The umpire immediately ruled the ball dead, the batter out and moved the runners back. When asked about it after the game, he stated, "I'm not going to have any of that in my game." He was reminded that it wasn't "his" game and to not do it again.
Even the players knew it was the wrong call and requested that I overrule my partner (I was working the bases). I politely informed them that they would have to take their point to the man who made the call. They were up by a half-dozen and decided to just keep playing.
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The play you describe wasn't called in "the way" I suggest. I would still insist that whatever the fielder did with the ball; whether he caught it and dropped it, or, whether he just didn't catch it; it would have to be INTENTIONAL.
The way you described this play ... it seems pretty obvious it was not intentional. So, I'd permit whatever happened. If a double play resulted ... I'd allow it, of course.
Please don't mistake my exuberance on this issue to be argumentative or combative. I know I come across like that sometimes. I am just flabergasted that the softball world has adopted such a bizarre interpretation for a rule that has, as its intent, the preventation of trickery to get undeserved double plays.
When Merle Butler tells me what you are all telling me is true ... I'll accept it. But that won't change my mind about it being a most bizarre interpretation. And, I suspect he's going to tell me exactly what you all have been telling me ... certainly the case book suggests that you're all correct.
I'm just stunned and shaking my head in disbelief. I just don't see how the softball people can interject a requirement in the rule that the baseball people would NEVER adopt ... even though the rule is supposed to accomplish the same thing. I do not accept that "it's a softball thing." This is fundamental to BOTH games. Forced runners are FORCED to run when the ball is not caught. Baseball and softball have that in common. [/B]
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The fielder taking two steps back and trapping the ball to the ground doesn't seem intentional to you?
And, once again, softball people do not go around, look at what the baseball folks do and then change the rules to align the games. From my point of view, baseball has adopted some rules from softball especially at the NFHS level.