Interesting scenario question

[chapmaja]

Originally Posted by BlueDevilRef

Before looking at any other responses, and from my reading of your words, it is a four base award. Defense tipped a fair ball over the fence. The ball was flying fair when she hit it. Not any different if it lands before crossing fence or after. If this was same scenario but 20 feet closer to infield, it would be a fair ball and play would continue.

This was my thought as well, however the umpire in question, who is also in charge of officials for our state athletic association said it is a 2 base award.

As others have said, when a fair batted ball is deflected out of play it is a 2 base award. If this situation actually happened, as it was presented, I would have gotten it wrong.

I'm torn on my opinion of this rule. I think the rule is unfair because it takes away what would have been a fair ball and possible home run from the offense. At the same time, for the defense to come over and make a play to touch the ball, means they likely have made a very good play just to get in position for this to happen.

I think this situation is not the intent of the deflected out of play rule, but is a consequence of said rule. I think the reason for the rule is the balls that are line drives or hard grounders that deflect off the defender and bounds away into DBT. In that case the 2 base award is appropriate.

[umpjim]

Originally Posted by chapmaja

This was my thought as well, however the umpire in question, who is also in charge of officials for our state athletic association said it is a 2 base award.

As others have said, when a fair batted ball is deflected out of play it is a 2 base award. If this situation actually happened, as it was presented, I would have gotten it wrong.

I'm torn on my opinion of this rule. I think the rule is unfair because it takes away what would have been a fair ball and possible home run from the offense. At the same time, for the defense to come over and make a play to touch the ball, means they likely have made a very good play just to get in position for this to happen.

I think this situation is not the intent of the deflected out of play rule, but is a consequence of said rule. I think the reason for the rule is the balls that are line drives or hard grounders that deflect off the defender and bounds away into DBT. In that case the 2 base award is appropriate.

Being torn on your opinion and thinking a rule is unfair, not a good mind state for an umpire.

[chapmaja]

Originally Posted by umpjim

Being torn on your opinion and thinking a rule is unfair, not a good mind state for an umpire.

Why? There are a lot of rules that are unfair. Personally I think the jewelry rule in most NFHS sports is unfair and is not a good rule. Does it mean I won't enforce the rule? No, it is still the rule, but it isn't a good rule.

Being torn on my opinion of a rule isn't an issue either. I don't have to like the rules I enforce, I only have to enforce them. With that said, I likely would have gotten this particular situation incorrect, in part because of my opinions. With that said, what are the odds anyone actually has this particular play occur.

[umpjim]

Originally Posted by chapmaja

Why? There are a lot of rules that are unfair. Personally I think the jewelry rule in most NFHS sports is unfair and is not a good rule. Does it mean I won't enforce the rule? No, it is still the rule, but it isn't a good rule.

Being torn on my opinion of a rule isn't an issue either. I don't have to like the rules I enforce, I only have to enforce them. With that said, I likely would have gotten this particular situation incorrect, in part because of my opinions. With that said, what are the odds anyone actually has this particular play occur.

So if you have to tell a player to take off jewelry you have unfairly affected the game. But I get where you are coming from. I do baseball and nit shit rules do not affect the fairness of a game in my neck of the woods.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by umpjim

So if you have to tell a player to take off jewelry you have unfairly affected the game. But I get where you are coming from. I do baseball and nit shit rules do not affect the fairness of a game in my neck of the woods.

While I understand the rationale behind the NFHS jewelry rule, I don't paticularly like the "see what we can get away with" attidute making it the umpire's responsibility seems to engender.

NFHS's rules questionnaire asks about a rule proposal to restrict the coach for any violation of "properly and legally equipped" discovered after the plate meeting (question wording heavily paraphrased...). I answered that I would favor such a rule. My reasoning is to place more of the burden on the coach, where (IMO) it properly belongs.

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by Dakota

While I understand the rationale behind the NFHS jewelry rule, I don't paticularly like the "see what we can get away with" attidute making it the umpire's responsibility seems to engender.

NFHS's rules questionnaire asks about a rule proposal to restrict the coach for any violation of "properly and legally equipped" discovered after the plate meeting (question wording heavily paraphrased...). I answered that I would favor such a rule. My reasoning is to place more of the burden on the coach, where (IMO) it properly belongs.

I would be a lot more supportive if they more reasonably defined jewelry and adornments. I hate needing to address some of the items like gel bands, yarn, hair control items on the wrist, and other items obviously not unsafe short of 27th-world imagination scenarios.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by AtlUmpSteve

I would be a lot more supportive if they more reasonably defined jewelry and adornments. I hate needing to address some of the items like gel bands, yarn, hair control items on the wrist, and other items obviously not unsafe short of 27th-world imagination scenarios.

I agree with this.

But, the NFHS rule CAN be applied very simply: unless the adornment is specifically allowed, it is illegal.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by AtlUmpSteve

I would be a lot more supportive if they more reasonably defined jewelry and adornments. I hate needing to address some of the items like gel bands, yarn, hair control items on the wrist, and other items obviously not unsafe short of 27th-world imagination scenarios.

Steve:

My definition is jewelry is very simple: If you weren't wearing when you came out of the womb, it is jewelry. !

MTD, Sr.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by umpjim

Being torn on your opinion and thinking a rule is unfair, not a good mind state for an umpire.

There have been over the years many rules that I thought were stupid, unfair, ridiculous, silly, or poorly written so as to either be misapplied or generate unnecessary "conversation" with coaches, etc., etc. Nothing wrong with an umpire having such opinions or discussing them here.

I agree that an umpire thinking his job is to make the game fair is not a good mind state for an umpire, especially if he starts to ignore or shade the application of rules to comply with his own sense of fairness.

[SNIPERBBB]

Has to go over fair territory t be a homer. 8.4.3.R

[BretMan]

Originally Posted by chapmaja

I think the rule is unfair because it takes away what would have been a fair ball and possible home run from the offense.

The rule didn't take anything away from the offense...the defense did!

Why reward the batter if she didn't hit the ball well enough for it to be out of the fielder's reach. If you want a home run, hit it higher next time!

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by chapmaja

This was my thought as well, however the umpire in question, who is also in charge of officials for our state athletic association said it is a 2 base award.

As others have said, when a fair batted ball is deflected out of play it is a 2 base award. If this situation actually happened, as it was presented, I would have gotten it wrong.

I'm torn on my opinion of this rule. I think the rule is unfair because it takes away what would have been a fair ball and possible home run from the offense. At the same time, for the defense to come over and make a play to touch the ball, means they likely have made a very good play just to get in position for this to happen.

So you consider it unfair if a defender leaps, reaches over the fence and catches a ball in flight that would have been a home run save a great defensive play? The offense failed.

OTOH, if the ball is short of the fence, but deflects off a player without hitting the ground or fence and clears the fence in fair territory, the batter-runner is awarded a HR/4B award even though it was undeserved. But the defense failed.

IMO, no problem with this rule and is consistent throughout the game.