Ground Can't Cause a Fumble

[jicecone]

Interesting game yesterday. F5 tries to catch foul ball before 3B. Ball goes in glove and F5 takes three steps into fair territory, falls and drops ball.

As I come up the line from HP, I know for certain that it was touched in foul territory first and that F5 did not complete a catch. I have a Brain Freeze and fail to call it a foul ball. (My bad)

The DC comes running out arguing that that was a catch and of course wants the out. Supporting his argument was the words, "just like football, the ground can't cause a fumble." He appeals to my partner first. I go back to the plate and he finally makes his way there asking me to get help about the catch. I told him that "I was 100% certain that what happened did not meet the criteria of a catch and there was no reason to discuss my call with the BU". I explained several examples to him and he wasn't buying off on any of them, so I ended the conversation and we continued with the game.

After the 2-3 pitches the light bulb went off that it was a foul ball. Thankfully the decision had no bearing on the game, (his team was mercy ruled) however, it was quite an amusing discussing after the game with my partner.

For the record , the DC was finally restricted to the bench after coming out yelling for appeals on obvious calls.