NFHS interpretation

[David Emerling]

Is it just me, or are some of the rule references that support many example plays tenuous, at best?

You read the play ... you read the ruling ... then look up the cited reference and find NO BASIS for the suggested ruling based on the reading of the rule. I see this happen time and time again.

Here's an interpretation that I just read from the NFHS website:

SITUATION 10: With 1 out and R1 on first and a count of 2-1, B2 hits a bouncing ball along the first base foul line. U1 mistakenly declares “Foul!” as F1 picks up the ball in fair territory. RULING: The ball is dead immediately. R1 returns to first. B2 continues at bat with a count of 2-2. (5-1-1h)

Seems reasonable enough.

The ball instantly becoming dead seems reasonable and is supported by the cited rule. But there seems to be some question as to whether an umpire can rule a foul ball strike on a ball that is clearly fair.

So, I looked up 5-1-1h.

Which says: Ball becomes dead immediately when the umpire handles a live ball or calls "Time" for inspecting or for any other reason, including items in Section 2 or gives the "Do Not Pitch Signal" or verbally announces "Foul Ball.

That certainly explains WHY the ball is dead. I doubt anybody would argue that. But what about the heated argument on the part of the defense that the ball was CLEARLY fair and that they were unable to register any outs which would have certainly resulted. Could the umpire that called "Foul!" honestly claim that the ball *was* foul?

Rule 5-1-1h does not address THAT issue, which, in my opinion, would be the more heated point of the debate.

The question is not so much is the ball dead or not; more importantly, the defense will be demanding whether the umpire is properly ruling a "strike" for a batted ball that EVERYBODY will admit was fair and would have almost certainly resulted in an out.

5-1-1h does not address THAT issue.

The bottom line is this: I seldom find the rule references for interpretations of any value since they seldom hit at the heart of the issue.

David Emerling
Memphis, TN

[Edited by David Emerling on Jan 20th, 2005 at 03:22 PM]