Proposed 2011 ASA Rule Changes Part I

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by youngump

Thought Greymule above did a better job than me, but guess still not quite clear if somebody is still not following us.

The rule as amended is subject to being misread to indicate that a ball which hits both the fair and foul portions of first base is not fair because it did not hit ONLY the white portion. The rule is currently ambiguous but we all know how to call it. It will remain so after the change. This is noteworthy to me since the change was to bring this rule into alignment with the other rule and could have resolved that situation.

Again, this is NOT a change in the rule, but a definition. First base is defined as a 15x30 base. The definition of fair ball indicates that a ball which hits the base is fair. The change is to indicate that only that this applies to the white portion only. The actual rule which decides whether the ball is fair or foul is 8.2.M.1 & 2.

[youngump]

Yes, I know. But here's what we haven't yet communicated.
You say that:

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

The change is to indicate that only that this applies to the white portion only.

It's just not what the change says at least not if you don't know what it meant in the first place. The change says that it applies if the ball hits only the white portion.

There are two things, hitting the white portion only and the rule applying only if it hits the white portion. As written, it seems to indicate the former but it means the latter.
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How to roll blunts

[JefferMC]

For what it's worth (and I realize that's not much), but I agree with youngump.

This yet another place where they clarify something and introduce ambiguity where it is not necessary (as if it is ever). Yes, we all know that the ball that hits both the white and colored portions of 1B is fair. Yes, we know we have a (different) rule to stipulate this. However, there is no reason why we have to insert the word "(only)" here in such a way that we have coaches ejecting themselves over it.

Or was that the intent?

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by youngump

Yes, I know. But here's what we haven't yet communicated.
You say that:


It's just not what the change says at least not if you don't know what it meant in the first place. The change says that it applies if the ball hits only the white portion.

There are two things, hitting the white portion only and the rule applying only if it hits the white portion. As written, it seems to indicate the former but it means the latter.

This may be the smallest nit I've ever seen picked. You have to literally go out of your way to misinterpret this rule to mean what you're reading it to mean. I suppose there is, each year, in the entire country, a SINGLE new umpire that has never heard of the sport - and yes, THAT guy might read it wrong (or he might read it right ... or read the whole book and get it right anyway). But hopefully, whoever this guy's scheduler is will be smart enough to work him with someone who's been on the field before.

Truly ... EVERY person who has played this sport (including my 10 year old - I read her the rule and then created your example, and she got it right ... and thought it was an idiotic question) already knows this rule. If you feel we need to write every rule so that the Norwegian guy now living in Bassackward, South Dakota will get it on first glance without any training, the rule book is going to be 3 times as long.

[youngump]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

This may be the smallest nit I've ever seen picked. (or he might read it right ... or read the whole book and get it right anyway).

But it's trivially easy to rewrite this rule in a way that makes it clear. Which is why I made the comment that I hoped they weren't writing it that way. And why you think that most people understand fair/foul such that when they become umpires it doesn't need to be spelled out. There are plenty of folks that don't get it.

I'm curious as to your other point though. Where in the book is the actual rule spelled out? I don't have a '10 book but there's an '08 book online and in there the rule makes it clear that a ball hitting both is both fair and foul. See 8-2-M-1&2. Maybe that's been fixed, but if not, this is again an easy place to make it clear.
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