Not only are the hands part of the bat . . .

[greymule]

Saw this play over the weekend in a men's ASA SP tournament (I was NOT umpiring):

Abel on 3B, Baker on 2B. Charles hits a hard FOUL one-hopper that Abel, in foul ground with his foot still on 3B, cannot avoid. The ball bounces off Abel and ricochets past F5 into LF. Abel and Baker score. Charles to 1B.

The ump ruled it a fair ball under the theory that when the runner has his foot on 3B, he becomes "part of the bag," and since the bag is in fair territory . . .

The defense was not happy about the call, but the offense repeated, "Yeah, the runner is part of the bag."

And the game proceeded from there.

[bluezebra]

Originally Posted by greymule

Saw this play over the weekend in a men's ASA SP tournament (I was NOT umpiring):

Abel on 3B, Baker on 2B. Charles hits a hard FOUL one-hopper that Abel, in foul ground with his foot still on 3B, cannot avoid. The ball bounces off Abel and ricochets past F5 into LF. Abel and Baker score. Charles to 1B.

The ump ruled it a fair ball under the theory that when the runner has his foot on 3B, he becomes "part of the bag," and since the bag is in fair territory . . .

The defense was not happy about the call, but the offense repeated, "Yeah, the runner is part of the bag."

And the game proceeded from there.

A tournament, and no one could set this right? Where was the TD? At the snack bar?

Bob

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by bluezebra

A tournament, and no one could set this right? Where was the TD? At the snack bar?

Bob

Not sure how it works in your part of the world, but the TD has NOTHING to do with addressing rules in our area. If the TD was watching, his opinion and interjection into a game situation would get him a tournament without umpires.

If a team chose to follow a protest procedure, then a UIC might rule; no protest, then the game continues.

[LLPA13UmpDan]

Gee this is a new one to me. It should be ruled a foul ball. Runners return.

[jwwashburn]

Originally Posted by AtlUmpSteve

Not sure how it works in your part of the world, but the TD has NOTHING to do with addressing rules in our area. If the TD was watching, his opinion and interjection into a game situation would get him a tournament without umpires.

If a team chose to follow a protest procedure, then a UIC might rule; no protest, then the game continues.

Any umpire dumb enough to say that the runner is part of the base would be dumb enough to let TD's interfere in the game.

[greymule]

Where was the TD? At the snack bar?

Were you there, bluezebra? How did you know that that's exactly where he was? And the snack bar is built into the backstop. In other words, the TD was 75 feet from the call.

However, the other posters are correct that the TD would not be called in to rule on such a play, and nobody suggested that. Since the play was entirely correctable (FOUL!), the ump could have checked with the BU or any of several other umps hanging around.

Perhaps this odd ruling stuck because after an initial squawk, the defense just let it go. Most people at the field were not aware of the details of the dispute. Of course, even if the ump thought the ball hit the runner in fair territory, F5 was playing way back, so since the runner was in contact with the base, the ball should have been ruled dead.

[bluezebra]

Originally Posted by greymule

Where was the TD? At the snack bar?

Were you there, bluezebra? How did you know that that's exactly where he was? And the snack bar is built into the backstop. In other words, the TD was 75 feet from the call.

However, the other posters are correct that the TD would not be called in to rule on such a play, and nobody suggested that. Since the play was entirely correctable (FOUL!), the ump could have checked with the BU or any of several other umps hanging around.

Perhaps this odd ruling stuck because after an initial squawk, the defense just let it go. Most people at the field were not aware of the details of the dispute. Of course, even if the ump thought the ball hit the runner in fair territory, F5 was playing way back, so since the runner was in contact with the base, the ball should have been ruled dead.

I meant to say UIC, but had a brain cramp. The UIC doesn't have to observe the play, but should have the ability to rule that this was a foul ball. If the defense didn't lodge a protest, they deserved the dumb call.

...the ump could have checked with the BU or any of several other umps hanging around.


It was the BU's call. Should he check with himself?

Were you there, bluezebra? How did you know that that's exactly where he was? And the snack bar is built into the backstop. In other words, the TD was 75 feet from the call.


Yeah I was there, having a hot dog. It was a rhetorical question. Did you ever hear of those?

Bob