Fair or Foul
 

Got into a funny discussion w/a fellow umpire:
Batter hits a one hopper down the 1st base line that bounces once in fair territory then towards foul ground but F3 (who's playing very shallow) hustles into foul territory and snags the ball before it touches foul ground, pivots and makes the throw to 1st for the out. Good play,right?
Now, batter hits a ball off home plate that bounces straight up into the air. F2 reaches out, snags the ball, BU puts arms up and calls "foul ball". Good call?

Having a discussion with a "fellow" umpire implies you are an umpire. Frankly, it doesn't sound like it.

1st sitch is a foul ball if F3 made this play in front of the bag - fair/foul would be determined by whether the ball passed the bag in fair or foul ground if he made this play behind the bag. And the most immaterial thing of all is whether F3 snagged the ball before or after it hit the ground - completely irrelevant, and the fact that you think this "great play" made a difference quite frankly scares the crap out of me.

2nd sitch - you didn't give enough info, but I suspect you don't know what information is relevant. First - the plate is 100% in FAIR territory (it's irrelevant here, but the tone of your post indicates that you think otherwise). Second - ALL that matters here is whether the ball is over fair or foul ground when it's first touched. NOTHING else matters.

Possibly neither.

1) It does not matter where it bounced first or where the fielder is, only whether the ball is over fair ground or foul ground when first touched by the fielder.

2) If it truly bounced straight up and was caught (first touched) while over the plate, it's fair.

But #2 does remind me of the "don't guess a strike or out" concept, so even if not sure, it should be fair. But then does guessing fair result in an out. :rolleyes:

mcrowder
Can't say I appreciate the tone but do appreciate the input. Thanks!

(Guess I'll have to take one with the other)

Wow
 

#1 any ball that first hits fair and passes or bounds over any part of 1B/3B is a fair ball. If this did not happen, then it's foul. #2 BU blew it. Only thing I could think of if the BU thought it hit the batter on the way up.

It's never a good call for a base umpire to call foul ball, with the one exception of a fly ball that he went out on. In no other case should BU be calling a ball foul; it is always the plate umpire's decision and call.

Even the ball which hits the batter should be called a "dead ball", not a foul ball; PU decides if the batter was in or out of the batter's box.

Actually, even if the ball hits foul first and passes or bounds over any part of 1B/3B it's a fair ball. Where it hit first is immaterial.

Saw that after posting. Was going by the play.

Why the hell is the BASE UMPIRE making the fair/foul call in the first place??

I said that yesterday, I believe. Just not in the same way.

Possibly due to rectal-cranial inversion, a none-too-rare affliction that can strike anyone wearing a blue shirt at any moment. It's incurable but is treatable in many instances.