What is the correct call?

[Rita C]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

The player assigned to protect the battery warming up instinctively reaches out to protect himself and catches the ball.

.

Isn't that what he's there for? If it's coming at him, isn't it his job to protect the battery? How is he supposed to do that if he isn't supposed to touch the ball?

Why aren't there ground rules for this?

Or am I missing something?

Rita

[Nigel Tufnel]

Originally Posted by Rita C

Isn't that what he's there for? If it's coming at him, isn't it his job to protect the battery? How is he supposed to do that if he isn't supposed to touch the ball?

Why aren't there ground rules for this?

Or am I missing something?

Rita

This is coming from an ump and more importantly an ex-player.
The guy is there to protect the battery on a FOUL ball...I know there is nothing in the rules, but this is an unwritten rule and just common sense...at 16U, you never know..It's his job to warn his teammates - "heads up" - no matter how fast a fair ball is coming their way..

You are not missing anything Rita...just one of those plays you have to just umpire..using the interference rule as Bobby cited..

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by Nigel Tufnel

This is coming from an ump and more importantly an ex-player.
The guy is there to protect the battery on a FOUL ball...I know there is nothing in the rules,

Yes there is. Bobby has cited it repeatedly.

[tballump]

Wouldn't the penalty be the same as if there were intentional interference by a fan, ball girl, or camerman in the big leagues? You just place the runners where they should be as if there was no interference. Of course the offensive team manager if he is like Whitey Herzog, should argue that his player is Vince Coleman's brother and would have scored on the play rather than just made 3rd base.

[socalblue1]

Originally Posted by tballump

wouldn't the penalty be the same as if there were intentional interference by a fan, ball girl, or camerman in the big leagues? You just place the runners where they should be as if there was no interference. Of course the offensive team manager if he is like whitey herzog, should argue that his player is vince coleman's brother and would have scored on the play rather than just made 3rd base.

exactly!

[Nigel Tufnel]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

Yes there is. Bobby has cited it repeatedly.

I'm sorry..what page does it say that there must be protection for players warming up on the field?

[SethPDX]

Originally Posted by Nigel Tufnel

I'm sorry..what page does it say that there must be protection for players warming up on the field?

The same page it says there must be bat boys, ball shaggers down the lines, etc. They don't have to bring someone out there, but if they want to, how many umpires are going to have a problem with it? "Authorized" does not mean required.

[PeteBooth]

On some law book page that says I can get sued if I see F1/F2 warming up with no protector and do nothing about it. Then God forbid a line shot hit's either F1/F2 and now the laywers get involved.

It's a safety issue which makes the "protector" an authorized person to be on the field.

Pete Booth

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by Nigel Tufnel

I'm sorry..what page does it say that there must be protection for players warming up on the field?

The question regarded interference. You stated there was no rule covering this situation. Bobby has posted it repeatedly. Try reading it.

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by Nigel Tufnel

I'm sorry..what page does it say that there must be protection for players warming up on the field?

This particular League has this as their one and only "home rule". I have worked many fields where managers require a third player on their own. I have no problem with this.

[Rita C]

Originally Posted by Nigel Tufnel

This is coming from an ump and more importantly an ex-player.
The guy is there to protect the battery on a FOUL ball...I know there is nothing in the rules, but this is an unwritten rule and just common sense...at 16U, you never know..It's his job to warn his teammates - "heads up" - no matter how fast a fair ball is coming their way..

You are not missing anything Rita...just one of those plays you have to just umpire..using the interference rule as Bobby cited..

I've never umpired a field that had the bullpen on the field. This is one good way to learn should I ever be on a field that does.

Rita

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Rita C

I've never umpired a field that had the bullpen on the field.

You need to get out more often. The majority of baseball fields have the bullpens down the left and right field lines.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

You need to get out more often. The majority of baseball fields have the bullpens down the left and right field lines.

Mybe where you live, but not everywhere.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

Mybe where you live, but not everywhere.

Maybe not where you live, but everywhere else.

You can't swing a dead cat around here without hitting a field with bullpens down the line. I just don't see what the big deal and drama is about that to start with. Anyone ever watched an MLB game? Chock full of bullpens down the foul lines. All over the country, too. Not a regional thing, dude.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Maybe not where you live, but everywhere else.

You can't swing a dead cat around here without hitting a field with bullpens down the line. I just don't see what the big deal and drama is about that to start with. Anyone ever watched an MLB game? Chock full of bullpens down the foul lines. All over the country, too. Not a regional thing, dude.

Actually, I don't think either of use has toured the country enough to be able to reach a definitive conclusion.