Sunlight
 

Runners on base, doesn't matter where. Outs don't matter. Sun is setting directly down the left field line. One-umpire mechanic slow pitch game. You're it.

Batter hits a shot down the left field line.

Due to the sun, you lose sight of the ball. You have no clue whether the ball landed a foot fair or a foot foul... but it's real close. One team's yelling "fair" while the other's yelling "foul". When you can finally see anything, you see F7 picking up the ball off the ground about 4 feet foul.

What do you do?

Sell the **** out of it.

The best you can.

If it's dead obvious fair or dead obvious foul, then make the call. If it's RIGHT at that line, I can't call it foul without seeing it.

And if the coach comes out to fuss at you, meet him along the line and just say, "coach, from my vantage point, I didn't see it go foul." Point towards the line and let him get the hint.

Why not? Can you afford to be wrong and give up a double, or let a potential run score because you can't see schitt?

My thought on this is... why NOT call it foul? Kill it and bring the batter back with a strike.

Assuming it's fair and you call it foul: Sure, it MIGHT be a huge reward to the defense if you call it foul, but the offense is hurt very little with a strike on the batter.

Assume it's foul and you signal fair: you just F'd the defense, and gave a huge reward to the offense.

I don't know. I hear what you're saying... you can't call a foul if you don't see it. But can you keep it fair if you don't see it, either?

My point is that you're effed either way you go.

What if it's ASA SP and the count was 1-2? Still call the foul?

Why? The obvious answer is that it is easier to correct an erroneous "fair" signal than a foul call. Now comes the big "but". If you are the only umpire there, who is going to help you, the fans? :rolleyes:

Obviously, there is no "absolutely correct" answer to this situation.

This can bring us back to the "you cannot call an out without actually seeing a tag" issue. I think it was obvious, that this comment is also not an "absolutely correct" statement. There are indicators an umpire can use to help.

In this scenario, if I cannot see the ball, I revert to my experience as a "yute" watching MLB games. Forget the ball, watch the fielders as they will take you to the ball.

I'm probably looking toward the ground (if it was a line drive) in the area where I see the fielders heading searching to pick up a bouncing object that hopefully is the ball. :eek:

If it is still in question, the umpire can hesitate and see if the fielders react in a certain manner which may indicate whether it was fair or foul.

If you are really lucky and cannot get any indication and a coach or defender moves into you line of view. Guess which way the call goes then? ;)

Whatever it is, you have to make a decision. If it is wrong, you WILL be talking to just one coach/player. If you need to take a little heat, let him have his/her say as long as it is in a civil tone.