Whose Call?

[Four Seam]

The batter hits a ball that bounces weakly off of the ground a few feet out of the batter's box, and the batter-runner runs into the ball in fair territory. Whose call is it whether batter-runner should be called out, BU or PU, or can it be called by either one, whoever saw it?

If it is the PU's call, but he was screened off by the catcher and runner and could not see what happened, therefore made no call, should the BU take any action? Does the call stand unless the defensive coach asks the PU to check with the BU?

Thank you for your replies.

[mcrowder]

This is PU's primary call. BU should not chime in unless he's SURE the batter was completely out of the box when contact was made, and even then he should wait for PU to not call it before chiming in.

[Ed Maeder]

The BU should give the PU time to kill the ball. If the PU doesn't the BU should. Then it is up to the PU to decide if the batter was in or out of the box when the ball hit them. PU primary call. I'd be hard pressed from the bases to decide where the batter was when contact was made. When in doubt they were in the box and a foul ball.

[Four Seam]

I should have made it more clear that in the actual case, the batter-runner ran into the ball several feet from the batter's box so that was not the issue.

[JEL]

Originally Posted by Four Seam

I should have made it more clear that in the actual case, the batter-runner ran into the ball several feet from the batter's box so that was not the issue.

That may make things a bit different. The BU should be moving into position to make the call at 1B and may not see that one, the initial run up the line (runners lane and such) should go to the PU who is trailing the BR. A tag midway (or even further) would belong also to the PU. This one should be called by the plate guy, but again if he doesn't see, or call it the base guy should.

If neither sees it, well, maybe it didn't happen.

[wadeintothem]

I dont agree with others on delaying this call. This this is an immediate dead ball and BU should immediately call it or the call appears weak if delayed while play is on going. It is a primary responsibility of a BU to watch for a DB like this. If you are not sure if she was out of the box or not you can conference on that.

[hotmatt]

Would the BU be correct in simply calling "Dead Ball", not out or foul? The play will be dead anyway, then let the PU either call the out of foul. I don't like to call Foul from the bases if I see a batted ball hit the batter even if I & everyone at the field knows the ball hit her in the batter's box.

[Mountaineer]

Originally Posted by hotmatt

Would the BU be correct in simply calling "Dead Ball", not out or foul? The play will be dead anyway, then let the PU either call the out of foul. I don't like to call Foul from the bases if I see a batted ball hit the batter even if I & everyone at the field knows the ball hit her in the batter's box.

Why would you call foul? The OP states the ball and player were in fair territory. The proper mechanic would be to kill the play and call the b/r out. My opinion is that it's probably going to be tough for the bu to see the angles to determine position of player and ball. If I see it and the pu doesn't call it, I will get it. If neither calls it but the pu wants to talk about it we can do that and get it right. The bottom line is to get the call right!

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Four Seam

The batter hits a ball that bounces weakly off of the ground a few feet out of the batter's box, and the batter-runner runs into the ball in fair territory. Whose call is it whether batter-runner should be called out, BU or PU, or can it be called by either one, whoever saw it?

If it is the PU's call, but he was screened off by the catcher and runner and could not see what happened, therefore made no call, should the BU take any action? Does the call stand unless the defensive coach asks the PU to check with the BU?

Thank you for your replies.

Dead ball would be the immediate call by any umpire on the field who positively saw the contact.

[hotmatt]

Why would you call foul? The OP states the ball and player were in fair territory. The proper mechanic would be to kill the play and call the b/r out. My opinion is that it's probably going to be tough for the bu to see the angles to determine position of player and ball. If I see it and the pu doesn't call it, I will get it. If neither calls it but the pu wants to talk about it we can do that and get it right. The bottom line is to get the call right!

Read what I wrote. I said let the PU call the out or foul. My response was in general , not thread specific. My point was, the ball will be dead anyway, what's the difference who kills it.