dhutton

JM, Thanks for the info. The coach never questioned me after my call. It was more of a personal thing trying to find the "Box" in the book. You know how it is when you know the rule but you want to see it in writing. Your explanation helped me remember the interpretation aspect of the rule and intent. Dan

If this has already been covered in another question, forgive, I did look and couldn't find it. PONY-13 Baseball. R3, 1 out and a 2-1 count on the batter. Pitcher throws a 52 foot breaking ball that goes to the backstop (to the 3rd base side). R3 is coming home to score on the passed ball. Batter stays in the box and never moves…doesn’t even flinch. Pitcher is covering and cannot make a play because the batter is in the way. I called Batter Interference and the runner out. The coach (like a complete gentleman) came out and told me that in his “personal studies of the baseball rule bookâ€, the batter had to right to stay in the box that it belonged to him and I (also like a complete gentleman I might add) let him know that in most cases he is correct, however, in this particular case where there is a wild pitch and a play is being made at the plate, it is the batters responsibility to vacate the box. I furthermore informed him that if there had been 2 outs, I would have called the batter out on the play to end the inning. I had to wait until I got home, pulled out my OBR book to find the rule. This is where I need help. I found 7.08 (g) for the out at the plate however, I can’t find the rule that says the batter must vacate the box when there is a play at the plate. The closest I can find is 6.06 ©. Help…!

BU takes the BR to 3B everytime. PU stays home. Simple mechanic. The main reason is if the BU breaks off to bust it to the plate and the BR trips going around 2B, and then trys to crawl his way back to 2B and a play is made on him, who has the call. The PU is at 3B and the BU is probably running somewhere between 2B and the plate. Just makes more sense for the BU to take the BR all the way to 3B.

Thanks for the assist on this. My reasoning (in light of OBR 2.0) is that the ball never passed the base and did not settle in fair territory. I guess when you read further into 2.0 “Fair†it does indicate that the ball is fair if it touches the base. I think we’ve all had occasions when the ball hits the bag or rolls over top of the bag…no brainer….it’s fair. This is the first (and last) time the ball never went past the bag. By the way, I sold it to the coach and he walked off the field accepting my call.

I've been umpiring youth baseball for many years. I had a play happen last night that I've never seen. No one on base. BR hit a line drive that sunk and hit the front edge of 3rd base. Never touched the ground mind you. The ball bounced back and rolled foul. the third baseman touched the ball in foul territory. I called the ball foul. The coach called time and asked me why it was foul? He argued that the ball was fair because it hit the bag. I've asked some of my colleauges and they are split 50/50 - foul/fair. I know that the ball has to cross the bag in fair teriitory in order for it to be fair. It never crossed the bag. Help me out here....foul or fair.