Quote:
Originally posted by Tap
I agree that if it's a very close call, you're stuck w/ the foul call. Can't unring the bell.
But at what point could it be a correctible error? If it clearly was fair and was erroneously called foul, and the defense had no chance of putting the B-R out at 1B since it was hit deep into the OF, couldn't the umpires place the B-R where she would have been but for the erroneous call, especially if the wrong umpire made the call? That would likely be 1B or 2B here (as opposed to 3B, since the defense stopped playing in reliance on the BU).
We discussed a play at the ASA national school in Atlanta where the B-R put down a great bunt (no one on base) that appeared to be rolling foul. She clearly had it beat out. The fielder just let it roll, it was called foul by the umpire, then it rolled back onto the line, thus fair. I believe the consensus was that the umpires could correct their error and put leave the B-R on 1B, as the defense did not attempt to make a play and the foul call occurred after it was clear that the B-R had made or would have made 1B.
|
And what happens when the player who had this bunt "beat out" keeps going to 2B. This is not unusual when a defense allows a ball to roll toward foul territory. If this happens and the defense picks up the ball and guns the runner out at 2B, are you going to rule the runner out, place her back at 1B or stick with the foul call? No matter what you do, you will be wrong. If you leave the runner on, the defense will protest (yes, they can)that the original call cause their players to ease up and not contact the ball while in foul ground as it is unnecessary as the umpire already ruled on the ball.
If you rule the runner out, the offense will complain that the call caused the runner to ease up after rounding 1B as the umpire already ruled on the ball.
Fair/foul is not a situational call. If you call it foul, it's foul. It may not be right, it may not be fair to the team, but it is foul.
Now, the reason a protest is possible here is because the moment the umpire decides to allow a runner on base on a ball ruled foul, it is no longer a judgment of fair or foul, but an interpretation of what constitutes a fair or foul ball.
The only way I see correcting an inaccurate "foul" call would be if the "fair" batted ball went directly out of play prior to the defense having the opportunity to field the ball (i.e. line drive off 1st/3rd base ricochet directly into DBT).