Awarding bases

[SoCal Lurker]

 

This is not a 1st play by an Infielder. that by is touched and picked up in the outfield, therefore it is a play by an outfielder

 

The rule isn't about where it was picked up - it is about who picked it up.  And by rule the infield is just the 90 foot square  1-2-1 in FED  1.04 in OBR.

whoa whoa ....hang on .....

 

That means anyone playing behing the bag is an outfielder?

 

I think Rich's point was that deciding whether the ball was in the outfield or infield doesn't work b/c the majority of "infield" plays tehcnically ocur outside the infield . ..

[Thunderheads]

 

 

This is not a 1st play by an Infielder. that by is touched and picked up in the outfield, therefore it is a play by an outfielder

 

The rule isn't about where it was picked up - it is about who picked it up.  And by rule the infield is just the 90 foot square  1-2-1 in FED  1.04 in OBR.

whoa whoa ....hang on .....

 

That means anyone playing behing the bag is an outfielder?

 

I think Rich's point was that deciding whether the ball was in the outfield or infield doesn't work b/c the majority of "infield" plays tehcnically ocur outside the infield . ..

got it, thanks guys!

[umpschool]

If i may chime in:

 

The position of the ball when it is picked up does not matter, regardless of the circumstances. If an player is an infielder when the pitch is thrown, he is an infielder for the entire play. Same if he is an outfielder to start the play.

 

A second point is that the grass/dirt lines have no bearing on whether a fielder is an infielder or an outfielder. This is a judgment decision on the part of the umpires.

 

Take the following, far-fetched play:

 

R2, one out. Fly ball to left field. The LF and CF collide while chasing the ball and both are knocked out cold as the ball drops in. The shortstop was also moving out to the outfield to possibly field the ball. R2, who held up believing the ball may have been caught, now takes off for third. The shortstop retrieves the ball and then throws the ball out of play in attempt to retire R2 at third base. At the time of the throw, the BR was past first base and R2 had not yet reached third.

 

Ruling:

This is the first play by an infielder. The award is two bases from the time of the pitch. R2 scores, and the BR is awarded second base.

 

Had the SS and LF collided and the CF the one who picked up the ball, the award would have been two bases time of the throw. R2 scores, and the BR is awarded third base.

[Jocko]

Game. Set. Match.

[jjskitours]

This is actually covered by Fed in Case Book 8.3.5 F.