Fair/Foul down 1B line

[nafxos]

Thanks guys. After listening to my partner's explanation last night, I totally get it. I'm just surprised this never came up with any other partners before last night. I'm pretty sure I've called similar balls foul as PU before, and pretty sure I've watched my partners call them foul when I was in A, and it never "felt" like either one of us was stepping on the other's call.

One other question. I worked with one partner this year who wanted the PU to take all fair/foul calls all the time. This eliminated any confusion re: whose call it was in the situation above, and allowed the BU to focus on the runner touching first on a ball into the OF down the 1B line. The only exception would be a "trouble" ball where the BU went into the OF.

Anybody else do it that way? Or see any potential problems (assuming both umpires are on the same page during pre-game)?

[johnnyg08]

Originally Posted by nafxos

One other question. I worked with one partner this year who wanted the PU to take all fair/foul calls all the time. This eliminated any confusion re: whose call it was in the situation above, and allowed the BU to focus on the runner touching first on a ball into the OF down the 1B line. The only exception would be a "trouble" ball where the BU went into the OF.

Anybody else do it that way? Or see any potential problems (assuming both umpires are on the same page during pre-game)?

Proper mechanics and clearly defined responsibilities eliminate confusion.

[RPatrino]

Originally Posted by nafxos

Thanks guys. After listening to my partner's explanation last night, I totally get it. I'm just surprised this never came up with any other partners before last night. I'm pretty sure I've called similar balls foul as PU before, and pretty sure I've watched my partners call them foul when I was in A, and it never "felt" like either one of us was stepping on the other's call.

One other question. I worked with one partner this year who wanted the PU to take all fair/foul calls all the time. This eliminated any confusion re: whose call it was in the situation above, and allowed the BU to focus on the runner touching first on a ball into the OF down the 1B line. The only exception would be a "trouble" ball where the BU went into the OF.

Anybody else do it that way? Or see any potential problems (assuming both umpires are on the same page during pre-game)?

Common practice is for the BU in "A" to take all fair/foul hit past the 1b line. Now, on some fields with no chalk lines past the bag foul balls can be troublesome, and in some cases the PU will take all foul balls down both lines, but I don't recommend it.

A ball hit toward the line, down right field with the fielder coming toward the line and the ball possibly going into the RF corner IS a trouble ball, and the BU would have a much better angle on any calls on this ball. This is why I don't recommend having the PU take all fair/foul calls on the 90 foot field.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by RPatrino

A ball hit toward the line, down right field with the fielder coming toward the line and the ball possibly going into the RF corner IS a trouble ball, and the BU would have a much better angle on any calls on this ball. This is why I don't recommend having the PU take all fair/foul calls on the 90 foot field.

Another reason not to give PU "all" fair/foul calls: the bounding ball near/over first base. PU is too far and often too slow to get eyeballs on that.

[JR12]

Originally Posted by nafxos

Thanks guys. After listening to my partner's explanation last night, I totally get it. I'm just surprised this never came up with any other partners before last night. I'm pretty sure I've called similar balls foul as PU before, and pretty sure I've watched my partners call them foul when I was in A, and it never "felt" like either one of us was stepping on the other's call.

One other question. I worked with one partner this year who wanted the PU to take all fair/foul calls all the time. This eliminated any confusion re: whose call it was in the situation above, and allowed the BU to focus on the runner touching first on a ball into the OF down the 1B line. The only exception would be a "trouble" ball where the BU went into the OF.

Anybody else do it that way? Or see any potential problems (assuming both umpires are on the same page during pre-game)?

the only time I di that is when there is no RF line. It's easier for HPU because he has the bag and pole to line up an imaginary line.

[jicecone]

Originally Posted by nafxos

Thanks guys. After listening to my partner's explanation last night, I totally get it. I'm just surprised this never came up with any other partners before last night. I'm pretty sure I've called similar balls foul as PU before, and pretty sure I've watched my partners call them foul when I was in A, and it never "felt" like either one of us was stepping on the other's call.

One other question. I worked with one partner this year who wanted the PU to take all fair/foul calls all the time. This eliminated any confusion re: whose call it was in the situation above, and allowed the BU to focus on the runner touching first on a ball into the OF down the 1B line. The only exception would be a "trouble" ball where the BU went into the OF.

Anybody else do it that way? Or see any potential problems (assuming both umpires are on the same page during pre-game)?

I agree with no OF Foul lines it is easier for the PU to line the base up with a point in the OF. Thats the importance of pre-game. but sometimes you just never know.

Had a men's league game yesterday morning (over 40), just money ball. Worked with a partner for first time and tried to go over pre-game but he had over 30 years experience and said it wasn't necessary. OK Batted ball down fist base line stops on line after roll. Fair ball? No he decided to call it foul as soon as it left the bat? R1 advances to second on foul tip. He says it is a foul ball? Ok, I'm not going to try an teach an experienced official that knows it all, lets move on. Sometimes you just have to umpire, even while rolling your eyes.

[mbyron]

This weekend I was working BU on a field with no foul lines in the OF, and my partner and I had pre-gamed that he would take fly balls near the line to RF when I'm in A.

But I went out on a long shot down the line which had a chance to get out. It ended up hitting the fence 2 feet fair, which was easy enough to see. I'm glad it was that deep, though, since if it had hit the ground it could have been tough to read.

[Rufus]

Coach here with an add-on question - if the BU is in B or C, does the PU then have all fair/foul calls down the 1st base line (i.e., past the pane of glass at 1B)?

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Rufus

Coach here with an add-on question - if the BU is in B or C, does the PU then have all fair/foul calls down the 1st base line (i.e., past the pane of glass at 1B)?

Well it's either PU or your base coach, coach!

[JR12]

Originally Posted by mbyron

well it's either pu or your base coach, coach!

lol...

[Rufus]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Well it's either PU or your base coach, coach!

Ok, under the heading of "If you think there are no stupid questions, just wait until a coach asks one!" I'll take that one squarely on the chin! Of course it makes sense that such calls would belong to the PU, but I sometimes find what makes sense and what actually is in terms of rules/mechanics have a remarkable amount of distance between them, hence the post.

Oh, and I've offered to make calls for the crews working my games in the past and strangely enough they're not too receptive! Not sure why as they'd have to do less work and still get paid. Maybe I'll just keep trying...

[rbmartin]

Originally Posted by Rufus

Coach here with an add-on question - if the BU is in B or C, does the PU then have all fair/foul calls down the 1st base line (i.e., past the pane of glass at 1B)?

In a 2 man system, the only time the field umpire ever has the primary fair/foul call is when he is at "A" position and a ball is hit or passes between first base and the right field foul pole. Everything else basically belongs to HP.

[DG]

I can not remember the last field I worked on that did not have lines down the lines, some may have not been refreshed lately, but there was a line to see.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by rbmartin

In a 2 man system, the only time the field umpire ever has the primary fair/foul call is when he is at "A" position and a ball is hit or passes between first base and the right field foul pole. Everything else basically belongs to HP.

Just delete this post.

I know what you are trying to say, but a new umpire will read it entirely the opposite of what should be.

[nafxos]

Originally Posted by rbmartin

In a 2 man system, the only time the field umpire ever has the primary fair/foul call is when he is at "A" position and a ball is hit or passes between first base and the right field foul pole. Everything else basically belongs to HP.

If I'm reading this right, that contradicts what I learned the other night, and what most people here are saying. The ball in the original post never passed between 1B and the RF foul pole. It hit foul halfway between home and first, and remained foul as it passed first base. But it was the BU's call.