Is fair or foul?

[Madden]

Had this happen in my kids's game yesterday. A batter hits a pop up almost straight up. The catcher loses where it is. He virtually stays in his position behind home plate, but definitely in foul ground.

The ball when it dropped lands right in front of home plate, untouched and in fair territory. The ball bounced right up to the catcher, who catches it, and then throws the ball to first to get the batter out who never ran. The ump ruled the batter was out as the ball landed fair but never touched the ground in foul territory.

Is this correct? I thought if the ball crosses the line after bounce in fair ground even if it never touches the ground again is foul because the player is in foul ground.

Need some help on this one.

[Stripes1950]

If the ball is first touched by F2 who is standing in foul territory, then it is foul.

[JIGGY]

Originally Posted by Stripes1950

If the ball is first touched by F2 who is standing in foul territory, then it is foul.

ahhhhhnt, wrong answer!

In this instance it is where the ball is when it is touched. We are calling a fair or foul ball not a fair or foul fielder (which would be a whole other issue). The umpire may have gotten the call right but for the wrong reason here. The catcher could have been standing in foul territory, but touched the ball in fair territory, thus making it a fair ball.

[Stripes1950]

Yes, it is possible that F2 reached out over fair territory and contacted the ball while it was still fair. In that case, fair ball, and record the out.

[JIGGY]

Just wanted to clarify that it is the ball that is being judged fair or foul, not the fielder; leaving it to reason that in most instances it doesn't really matter where the fielder is standing (there are other reasons it may matter but not for fair/foul purposes).

[LMan]

Originally Posted by Madden

I thought if the ball crosses the line after bounce in fair ground even if it never touches the ground again is foul because the player is in foul ground.

If the ball is in fair territory when touched, its fair. Doesnt matter where the player is standing here.

Sounds like your ump did a good job!

[bossman72]

It's similar to the "vertical plane of the goal line" in football. If the ball is in fair territory and is touched before it crosses the vertical plane of the foul line, it's a fair ball. If it's past the vertical plane and is touched, it's foul. Body position has nothing to do with it.

[oneonone]

If the catcher in this example is in his/her normal position (behind the plate) when the ball bounces back to the catcher (still behind the plate) I would have thought it to be a foul? But I do understand that the truth is in the details. Was the ball gloved behind or over the plate?

[NIump50]

Originally Posted by bossman72

It's similar to the "vertical plane of the goal line" in football. If the ball is in fair territory and is touched before it crosses the vertical plane of the foul line, it's a fair ball. If it's past the vertical plane and is touched, it's foul. Body position has nothing to do with it.

Unlike football the vertical plane in baseball would be the outside edge of the line since the line is in fair territory. and the ball would have to completely pass thru the vertical plane to be foul.