Quote:
Originally Posted by Stat-Man
Tell me about it. In a social club league I play in, we had a guy umpiring who I'm familiar with.
All is going well until partway through the game, a ball is hit close to the line in fair territory, and he yells an emphatic "FAIR BALL!"
At the sound of the letter "F", everyone freezes for a half second until they hear the word "fair".
I'm in the first base coaching box shaking my head.  |
Why is the ump yelling "FAIR BALL"? Unless I was taught incorrectly, you only ever say "Foul Ball" and if it's a close call that's fair, point to fair territory. That way, the flow of the play doesn't stop. Runner keeps running unless he/she hears something, fielders play the ball unless they hear something.