Quick one for you guys...
 

Here's a quick one for you guys- a few of us are wrestling with this one right now, and I thought I'd get some more opinions.

r1, no outs. Batter hits a line drive which hits third base, and ricochets directly into the third base coach who is in the coaches box, and had no chance to react. The ball drops to the ground and stops at his feet.

Suggestions?


Bainer.

Fair ball, play on.


I suggest the coach immediately vacate the area.

Fair ball, still in play. The coach is authorized to be on the playing field, so no int. unless it's judged to be intentional.

Yeah, F5 better pick up the ball before R1 scores.

Play on, McDuff.

Ace

GO GO GADGET Fielder.

Coach now needs to move so fielder can play the ball. That is all.

Same as if it hit an umpire

No, not the same as if the ball hit an umpire. If the ball hits an umpire before passing an infielder other than the pitcher, as would be the case if the base umpire is in traditional B or C position, the ball is immediately dead, the batter is awarded 1B and runners advance only if forced.

That's decidedly different from "play on."

If the umpire was in A or D, yes. In B or C, dead ball.

I always thought the umpire was in play. :confused: maybe i need to read some rules

Wait a minute, I think I see the problem here.

Dan, I hate to break this to you, but as I said before, unless Little League is specified, we are talking big people baseball on this forum. You probably work outside the bases in the outfield when working the bases in your LL games, correct?

If this is the case, you are behind the fielders, so if you get hit with the ball, it remains alive, as it has passed a fielder other than the pitcher. If you work inside the diamond and get hit, the ball is dead, the batter gets 1st base, and any forced runners advance.

Since the OP's sitch was a little far-fetched, lets say the 3B Coach collapses on top of the ball. What's the call?

And you think the OP's sitch was farfetched?:eek:

911.......?

And the light comes on.