ODB Gets Hit by Thrown Ball

[teebob21]

I'll accept this logic. The case plays and scenarios you gave sent me through both the ASA and Fed books. I'll grant that both codes authorize the on-deck batter to be on-field, although she doesn't have offensive status as either a runner or batter. I was working under the assumption that only batters, runners, and coaches were, to coin a term, "actively" in the game during a live ball. I can't find a rule to confirm that so specifically, so I won't assume it's true any longer.

If we grant that the on-deck batter is "in the game" by virtue of explicitly being permitted on-field (also exists in USA 7-1), then the blocked ball example is out. An on-deck batter who makes no act of INT, and touches a thrown ball, should be nothing; play on. However, I suspect that the "INT but no chance for an out" exception is both codes is what may be read as "any time the ball hits the ODB, it's a dead ball".

I'd love to see an official interp from TPTB in either USA or Fed.

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by teebob21

I'd love to see an official interp from TPTB in either USA or Fed.

Me too. I'm trying to convince another umpire who insists that any time the ball contacts the ODB, it should become dead. I personally don't think that should be the case since, IMHO, she has the same "status" as the base coach in terms of authorization to be on the field. If it's perfectly acceptable to keep the ball live when it hits the base coach through no fault of his/her own, then the same should be the case when it comes to the ODB. It would really surprise me if the official edict is that the base coach and the ODB are treated differently.

Tell me how this makes sense:

Scenario 1: Nobody on base. Batter hits a frozen rope to F9 who fields it on the hop. F9 throws to first base to play on the BR, and her throw is wide left. The throw hits the base coach and caroms into the dugout. Ruling: Ball remains live until it enters the dugout, and the BR is awarded second base (two bases from F9's throw)

Scenario 2: Nobody on base. Batter hits a frozen rope to F9 who fields it on the hop. F9 throws to first base to play on the BR, and her throw goes over F3's head. The throw hits the on-deck batter who is still in the circle and caroms into the dugout. Ruling: The ball is immediately dead when it hits the on-deck batter, and the BR remains at first.

I don't buy it.

[RKBUmp]

Nfhs has a case play regarding an errant throw that hits a photographer outside a media area and the ball remains live. So, a photographer is most certainly a person not engaged in the game, and if an errant throw hitting them is not a dead ball then why on Earth would an errant throw hitting on on deck batter be dead?

[teebob21]

Originally Posted by RKBUmp

Nfhs has a case play regarding an errant throw that hits a photographer outside a media area and the ball remains live. So, a photographer is most certainly a person not engaged in the game, and if an errant throw hitting them is not a dead ball then why on Earth would an errant throw hitting on on deck batter be dead?

That was part of what changed my mind on Manny's sitch. I was going to post that media is authorized on-field...etc....that said, as of this year I'm pretty sure Fed changed media areas to dead-ball territory, and thus a media member who touches the ball would make the ball dead.

[RKBUmp]

Media was allowed to be in designated media areas, they were never allowed to be outside that area on the field of play.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by RKBUmp

Media was allowed to be in designated media areas, they were never allowed to be outside that area on the field of play.

And the ODB is in a designated area.

[RKBUmp]

The ODB is not always restricted to the on deck circle, they are allowed to leave it in certain situations. The media was never suppose to be outside the area. And when there was a media area allowed on the field of play, there was a rule that stated the ball was dead if it hit something inside the media area. There is no such rule stating a ball hitting the on deck batter in the on deck circle is dead automatically.