Bad partner

[LDUB]

Originally posted by mick
2005 SITUATION 3: With one out and a 1-1 count, the batter hits a high fly ball in left field near the foul line. The umpire declares “Foul Ball” as the fly ball is subsequently caught by the left fielder. RULING: Once the umpire verbally declares “Foul Ball,” the ball is dead and treated as foul ball. The batter will return to bat with a 1-2 count and still one out. (5-1-1h) We would need bigger crews, a committee perhaps to decide if this should be an out or a strike ???

There is more to decide than out or foul. What if there were mutiple runners, with the possibility of one or more trying to advance after the catch?

Originally posted by mick
2005 SITUATION 4: With the bases empty, the batter hits a long fly ball down the left-field line that easily goes over the outfield fence. With the sun in his eyes, the plate umpire initially declares “Foul Ball,” but then realizes he made a mistake, that the ball did indeed go over the fence in flight in fair territory. RULING: The umpire may reverse his call and declare a home run. The ball is dead because it left the field by going over the fence in flight, not because the umpire declared, “Foul Ball.” (10-2-1l, 5-1-1f-4, 8-3-3a) Fed cannot even come up with situations or cases to make the rule even loosely resemble competence !!!

I don't understand why you have any problem with this at all.

[LDUB]

Originally posted by gsf23
So..if I didn't call that ball foul, what would have happened? Well..the ball would have been caught, just like it was and the runners could tag a run at their own risk. I don't see what big decision I would have to make.

R2 and R3, foul fly to F7. You call foul, and F7 catches the ball.

1. Is R3 going to try to advance?
2. Is R2 going to try to advance?
3. If R3 only tries to advance will F7 throw home, or throw to F5 to keep R2 at second, and if he does throw home, will R3 be out or safe?
4. If both runners try to advance, which one will F7 play on, and will the runner be out or safe?

As you can see, there are an infinite number of things which could happen after the catch.

[gsf23]

Originally posted by LDUB

R2 and R3, foul fly to F7. You call foul, and F7 catches the ball.

1. Is R3 going to try to advance?
2. Is R2 going to try to advance?
3. If R3 only tries to advance will F7 throw home, or throw to F5 to keep R2 at second, and if he does throw home, will R3 be out or safe?
4. If both runners try to advance, which one will F7 play on, and will the runner be out or safe?

As you can see, there are an infinite number of things which could happen after the catch.

Again, I'm sorry but I just don't see the reasoning behind this rule on a CAUGHT fly ball.

I can see the reasoning on a ground ball, or a ball that falls uncaught. In one of those situations, as a runner if I see the ball on the ground and I hear "FOUL" then I an going to stop running or slow down.

But, EVERYONE knows that if a fly ball is caught, it is an out. I don't see how calling "foul" has any affect on the play. Are you, and FED, saying that saying "Foul" on a ball in the air is going to confuse baserunners?!?

[bob jenkins]

Originally posted by gsf23
But, EVERYONE knows that if a fly ball is caught, it is an out. I don't see how calling "foul" has any affect on the play. Are you, and FED, saying that saying "Foul" on a ball in the air is going to confuse baserunners?!?

It might.

R1 stealing on the pitch. Ball is hit in the air near the foul line. Umpire calls "foul". R1 never sees the ball, but slows down (as you said you'd do when you heard the call), and walks back to first only to find that F3 is holding the ball on the base.

If you don't kill the ball on the "foul" call, how many outs do you have?

[mick]

Originally posted by bob jenkins

It might.

R1 stealing on the pitch. Ball is hit in the air near the foul line. Umpire calls "foul". R1 never sees the ball, but slows down (as you said you'd do when you heard the call), and walks back to first only to find that F3 is holding the ball on the base.

If you don't kill the ball on the "foul" call, how many outs do you have?

bob,
Does Fed baseball offer any reasoning for changes like they do in other sports?
Why is spirit and intent omitted from those books?
mick