FOUL BALL - Catch?

[SC Ump]

Originally posted by bethsdad
OK , I was watching a game a couple years ago.Batter hits line drive down first base line that hits the edge of grass. Plate ump yells foul. Ball bounces straight to firstbaseman in fair territory. Now what do you do?

From your quote, I do not know whether the ball was truly fair or fail. If you mean that it hit some edge of the grass that caused it to bounce back into fair territory before it passed the first base bag, then I understand the problem you are talking about.

Most softball and baseball organizations have published cases/interpretations/rulings that direct an umpire as to what to do in their organization if a fair ball is hit and an umpire yells, "foul ball" improperly. Most state that if the offensive and defensive players do not react the umpire's call and continue to play, that the play stands. However, if some players react, then different organizations will handle it differently. Some state that the ball is then considered "foul" and some state that the runners should be place at the place where the umpire believes they would have been should the call not have been made.

I personally do not worry about what to do because I don't yell foul unless I am absolutely positive it has already become foul. If I have a partner that screws up like discussed in this thread, I (1) let them take the heat for their screw ups since it is already over with and there isn't a thing I can do about it, and (2) notify our umpiring organization that there is more training necessary for this particular umpire.