Everyone Stopped!

[bsnalex]

Originally Posted by Stat-Man

Tell me about it. In a social club league I play in, we had a guy umpiring who I'm familiar with.

All is going well until partway through the game, a ball is hit close to the line in fair territory, and he yells an emphatic "FAIR BALL!"

At the sound of the letter "F", everyone freezes for a half second until they hear the word "fair".

I'm in the first base coaching box shaking my head.

Why is the ump yelling "FAIR BALL"? Unless I was taught incorrectly, you only ever say "Foul Ball" and if it's a close call that's fair, point to fair territory. That way, the flow of the play doesn't stop. Runner keeps running unless he/she hears something, fielders play the ball unless they hear something.

[Stat-Man]

Originally Posted by bsnalex

Why is the ump yelling "FAIR BALL"? Unless I was taught incorrectly, you only ever say "Foul Ball" and if it's a close call that's fair, point to fair territory. That way, the flow of the play doesn't stop. Runner keeps running unless he/she hears something, fielders play the ball unless they hear something.

Oh, I agree with you. It's just been my observation that this particular social league doesn't necessarily use umpires certified by any governing body. This occasionally results in some odd rulings/interpretations, such as:

• A player may be called for BOO by the umpire, even without an appeal and even after a pitch has been thrown to the next batter;
• A runner hasn't committed interference if the collision with the protected fielder is an accident;
• It's not an infield fly if the ball is caught inside the pitcher's box/circle;

When arguing these are incorrect becomes fruitless, all one can do is grin, bear it, and

As the catcher, I was half-tempted in the following half-inning to casually mention that "fair ball" shouldn't be verbalized, but figured it wouldn't be well-received.

[Scooby]

Going back to the original play, once the ball is returned to the circle and the runner is not moving towards 1st base she can be called out for the look back rule.

[josephrt1]

Not sure I agree on the look back rule violation. Look back rule can not be enforced until the batter-runner reaches 1st base.

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by Scooby

Going back to the original play, once the ball is returned to the circle and the runner is not moving towards 1st base she can be called out for the look back rule.

Can't have a look back violation when the batter doesn't head for first base, for the reason josephrt1 mentioned. If that were the case, a batter who doesn't advance to first on an uncaught third strike could be ruled out well before she enters her dugout, but the rule says she isn't out until that point.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by Scooby

Going back to the original play, once the ball is returned to the circle and the runner is not moving towards 1st base she can be called out for the look back rule.

As others have said, not true. The LBR is not even in force until the BR reaches 1B.