Worked My First Game Ever Today

[ogie oglethorpe]

I'd like to thank everybody for the warm welcome, and for reassuring me that trying to do things the right way, is the right way. Even posts by JimPiano help, because without them I may not have realized the importance of proper mechanics prior to seeing the response he received. I'm in no position to question the job anyone else does, I just don't want to emulate what many consider bad habits.

There was actually a play that occurred yesterday while i was working the first game solo, a fly ball down the left field line that should have been a can of corn. As the ball is reaching the fielder I remember reading that I need to think of priorities in terms of fair/foul then catch/no catch. The fielder has the ball bounce off his glove while he and the ball are over foul territory, and it drops just to the foul side of the line. I emphatically rule "foul ball" and the batter asks me if the fielder was in fair territory. No I say, fielder and ball were both in foul territory. But it got me to questioning myself. Does it matter?

Which leads me to my question, since VetUmp was unable to clarify things for me. Is my only criteria for fair/foul the location of the ball when it is touched? Does it matter if the fielder is in fair or foul territory? Suppose while the ball is still in the air over foul territory it caroms off the fielders glove into fair territory before hitting the ground? Is it fair? I may post this in a separate thread to maximize eyeballs. Thanks again everyone.

Ogie