When to make the out call?

[RonTberry]

Question for you guys.

Watching a HS district championship game last night. Game is tied 4-4. Top 7th.

Batter walks to lead off inning. So now R1 at 1B.

Batter squares to bunt. Gets a little air under and charging F3 makes diving catch/trap.

R1 was on the move and gets to 2B with no throw.

F3 gets to knees and fires to F4 covering first. F4 and Batter collide on the bag and F4 doesn't make catch and Batter is now occupying 1B.

PU never made a call on catch or trap till AFTER all action was concluded. He then says F3 caught ball. So F4 runs and tags bag and PU calls B1 standing on 2B out as well.

Civil discussion ensued. Really, it was civil.

Two questions.

One, when should PU make the call as to catch or trap? Obviously the offensive team argued that an immediate call my PU gives R1 a chance to get back without being doubled off. Did he make it at proper time?

Is there any option for PU to call B1 out and put R1 back at 1B. I don't see how that is an option but you guys know better than I do.

As an aside, I don't think it made a difference. I think if he calls it immediately they still double runner off as he had a big break. But what a huge difference it made in game. 2 on and none out to none on and 2 out. Game ended up going extras.


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[bob jenkins]

The call should have been made as soon as the umpire judged the catch was complete -- somewhere in here: "F3 gets to knees "

[MD Longhorn]

If the umpire agrees that the delayed call put the runner in jeopardy, then he can (and should) put the runner back...

But based on your description, I doubt that's appropriate.

[RonTberry]

It would have been a tough call either way.

But hypothetically, what if he doesn't make call and R1 thinks he catches it and comes racing back to 1B. And R1, F3 and B1 all three collide. LOL.


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[john5396]

The batter isn't out until the fielder demonstrated he has completed the action of making the catch. Agree with Bob, about the time he gets to his knees and reaches into the glove would be the moment that the batter is out.

Until the play was complete, the batter was not out.

[CT1]

Originally Posted by RonTberry

It would have been a tough call either way.

But hypothetically, what if he doesn't make call and R1 thinks he catches it and comes racing back to 1B. And R1, F3 and B1 all three collide. LOL.

B is out on the catch, R1 out or safe at first, depending on Hu touched first first.

[rcaverly]

Originally Posted by CT1

...depending on Hu touched first first.

Hu's on first?









(Sorry, it just struck me as being funny.)