What do you do?

Skahtboi · #1 (**permalink**) Sun Jul 21, 2013, 06:36pm

Routine batted ball to F4 who has an easy play for the out at first. Just as F4 fields the ball, a ball from another field lands in the infield. F4 goes ahead and makes the play for the out.

Do you a)allow the out, as it was routine, b)call dead ball, award batter first, c)call dead ball and send the batter back to bat, or d)say it is not my problem but the other umpire's to sort out?

CecilOne · #2 (**permalink**) Sun Jul 21, 2013, 06:49pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

Routine batted ball to F4 who has an easy play for the out at first. Just as F4 fields the ball, a ball from another field lands in the infield. F4 goes ahead and makes the play for the out.

Do you a)allow the out, as it was routine, b)call dead ball, award batter first, c)call dead ball and send the batter back to bat, or d)say it is not my problem but the other umpire's to sort out?

I would not kill a play that had started with no effect on either the fielder or BR. I guess that is "a".
If the ball struck one of them, probably have to call a dead. "b" or "c" depending on who is affected.

"d" ONLY IF partner calls it first.

CecilOne · #3 (**permalink**) Mon Jul 22, 2013, 01:40pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by CecilOne

I would not kill a play that had started with no effect on either the fielder or BR. I guess that is "a".

If the ball struck one of them, probably have to call a dead.
"b" or "c" depending on who is affected.

Please clarify if/how wrong you think this is.
Just to be sure I am reading all responses correctly.

MD Longhorn · #4 (**permalink**) Mon Jul 22, 2013, 04:06pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by CecilOne

Please clarify if/how wrong you think this is.
Just to be sure I am reading all responses correctly.

Completely wrong. Unfortunate, obviously. But you simply don't kill a play unless you have to.

What happens when this fly ball from the other field hits F4 - and you kill it... and they throw out the BR anyway? You cannot call BR out if you've killed a live ball play.

99% of the time, that errant ball is going to have no effect on the play - perhaps a momentary distraction that doesn't change the outcome. But if you kill play when you see that ball fly onto your field, you've just changed the possible outcome.

xtremeump · #5 (**permalink**) Mon Jul 22, 2013, 04:10pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by md longhorn

completely wrong. Unfortunate, obviously. But you simply don't kill a play unless you have to.

What happens when this fly ball from the other field hits f4 - and you kill it... And they throw out the br anyway? You cannot call br out if you've killed a live ball play.

99% of the time, that errant ball is going to have no effect on the play - perhaps a momentary distraction that doesn't change the outcome. But if you kill play when you see that ball fly onto your field, you've just changed the possible outcome.

+1

CecilOne · #6 (**permalink**) Mon Jul 22, 2013, 04:38pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

Completely wrong. Unfortunate, obviously. But you simply don't kill a play unless you have to.

What happens when this fly ball from the other field hits F4 - and you kill it... and they throw out the BR anyway? You cannot call BR out if you've killed a live ball play.

99% of the time, that errant ball is going to have no effect on the play - perhaps a momentary distraction that doesn't change the outcome. But if you kill play when you see that ball fly onto your field, you've just changed the possible outcome.

I agree now.
Just to clarify, I never said just for a ball/object flying in; only if it struck a directly involved player. As said now, not then either.

xtremeump · #7 (**permalink**) Mon Jul 22, 2013, 04:09pm

Steve, thank you for the RULE, Cecil, I am with you we know that we are playing on fields that are close and it is possible that a SOFTBALL, could fly into our field. Play on and if nothing is effected, good. If in the 1 in a 1,000,000, chance the play is effected deal with it.

tcannizzo · #8 (**permalink**) Mon Jul 22, 2013, 04:33pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by xtremeump

Steve, thank you for the RULE, Cecil, I am with you we know that we are playing on fields that are close and it is possible that a SOFTBALL, could fly into our field. Play on and if nothing is effected, good. If in the 1 in a 1,000,000, chance the play is effected deal with it.

Here's one for you from a couple years ago.
I am PU.
B hits a foul ball that has just gone over the fence just beyond the edge of the infield grass on the 3B side.
Lo and behold, a foul ball from the other field collides with our foul ball mid-flight.

What are the odds of that???

Dakota · #9 (**permalink**) Mon Jul 22, 2013, 04:43pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcannizzo

Here's one for you from a couple years ago.
I am PU.
B hits a foul ball that has just gone over the fence just beyond the edge of the infield grass on the 3B side.
Lo and behold, a foul ball from the other field collides with our foul ball mid-flight... and deflects it back over the field where it is caught.

Ruling?

xtremeump · #10 (**permalink**) Sun Jul 21, 2013, 06:52pm

I worked at a Complex this weekend that has fields back to back and I make sure to mention at the PLATE meeting to keep playing. I also mention that we will use common sense, with your play I would have an out.

youngump · #11 (**permalink**) Sun Jul 21, 2013, 07:05pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

Routine batted ball to F4 who has an easy play for the out at first. Just as F4 fields the ball, a ball from another field lands in the infield. F4 goes ahead and makes the play for the out.

Do you a)allow the out, as it was routine, b)call dead ball, award batter first, c)call dead ball and send the batter back to bat, or d)say it is not my problem but the other umpire's to sort out?

The rule is not super clear in the copy of the rulebook I have digitally. Hopefully it's been edited since then. But it's 8-5-L and the effect is simply a dead ball. I think the effect from M was meant to be attached. When you have spectator interference, you rule as to what would have happened and do that. The rules supplement seems to suggest the same. In this case, I don't think it applies because to interfere you have to interfere with a play.

IRISHMAFIA · #12 (**permalink**) Sun Jul 21, 2013, 07:13pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by youngump

The rule is not super clear in the copy of the rulebook I have digitally. Hopefully it's been edited since then. But it's 8-5-L and the effect is simply a dead ball. I think the effect from M was meant to be attached. When you have spectator interference, you rule as to what would have happened and do that. The rules supplement seems to suggest the same. In this case, I don't think it applies because to interfere you have to interfere with a play.

Nope. Rule doesn't apply

youngump · #13 (**permalink**) Sun Jul 21, 2013, 07:18pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Nope. Rule doesn't apply

Why? Isn't throwing a ball into the middle of the field interference if it impedes a fielder executing a play?

Skahtboi · #14 (**permalink**) Sun Jul 21, 2013, 07:30pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by youngump

Why? Isn't throwing a ball into the middle of the field interference if it impedes a fielder executing a play?

Who was impeded in this situation?

youngump · #15 (**permalink**) Sun Jul 21, 2013, 08:39pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

Who was impeded in this situation?

Nobody, which is why I don't advocate killing it in this situation. I was understand Mike to be saying that whatever you do in any ball on field situation isn't based on your interpretation of the spectator interference rule and if not I'm not sure what rule you do use to fix it.