On Deck Batter Gets Foul Balls to the Backstop

[Mudder]

​Have a diamond with a huge backstop, maybe 40ft-50ft, at ground rules we always say "to keep the game moving on deck batter gets foul balls to the backstop, or passed balls/wild pitches to the backstop with no runners", while F1 will get another ball.  Its always clear, never had an issues with this at this diamond over the years, although you always have to remind the on deck batter.

This week, 15U rec ball, I'm PU,  tie game, top of the last inning, can't recall outs, no runners, ball 4 in the dirt goes all the way to the backstop fence, BR takes off for 1B, F2 reaches back to me for another ball, and I'm looking at him, he says "ball please" like 2 x, I'm still looking at him, finally  I say "no, thats a live ball, and ball 4, you gotta get that".  He finally gets it, but BR reaches 3B, eventually scoring, and they end up winning the game, by a run, maybe 2, but this play was the catalyst.

F2 gets on me and says "you said wild pitches to the fence with no runners, on deck will get it so why did you not give me a new ball"  I say "ya but not on ball 4".  he was not happy, neither were the coaches that came out and argued and asked that I move the BR from 3B to 1B, cause I did not make it clear enough at the plate meeting.  I said "no, c'mon coach you know he has to get that on ball 4"

Technically he was right we don't usually say "except on ball 4" on our statement at the plate meeting with regard to PB/WP to the backstop, but this is obvious, did they have a case?

 

 

[MooseLoop]

As soon as the pitch misses the strike zone, the batter becomes a runner.

[TheRockawayKid]

Catcher has to know what's going on here. 

[NorthTexasUmp]

This is not a plate meeting topic. Ground rules, players properly equipped, let's play. Summer you might need to clarify time limit and run rule but that's about it.

[Ump29]

This is a common "rule" but players have to know if the ball is live or not. Stupid players/coaches.

[Tksjewelry]

If it's a kid that hasn't played that field before, maybe clarify how this works when you introduce yourself to the catcher. I'm a little surprised that any catcher over twelve doesn't have this process down, we do this at most fields, not just the ones with huge backstop areas. 

[ricka56]

​he was not happy, neither were the coaches that came out and argued and asked that I move the BR from 3B to 1B, cause I did not make it clear enough at the plate meeting.  I said "no, c'mon coach you know he has to get that on ball 4"

​Really ? did I REALLY need to specify that ? Is this your first baseball game ?

We have on-deck batter get balls at the backstop too. but it has never been a plate meeting topic.

When F2 doesn't immediately go get the wild ball 4. I'll remind him to go get it, and not wait for BR to round 2B.

[ElkOil]

Some things shouldn't need to be spelled out, and this is one of them.  Retrieving the balls is a courtesy, not something covered by rules.  Nobody has a leg to stand on in arguing this with you.

[Majordave]

"Can't fix stupid!"---Ron White

[Majordave]

The more I think of this situation as described I think I would have a very hard time not actually stating/asking the coach and F2 trying to argue this "Are you stupid?"  "Is this your first baseball game ever?"  "Are you serious?"  "Now, STFU and play or you will be ejected for being stupid!"

[HuskerUmp22]

Sounds like rec ball, which is why I won't do it ever again. 

[RingEmUp]

This reminds me of a situation just this weekend in wreck 14u all-stars.  Bases loaded with 1 out, F2 drops strike 3 and BR takes off to 1st.  I was BU and gave my partner the no-catch signal and then I realized it didn't matter, F2 throws down to 1st and F3 tags out R1 who was standing off the bag by about 10 feet unsure of what to do.  Amazingly no one argued with us.  This is the same wreck ball where I had to explain to a coach that a foul tip was still live.

[bluejerred]

This reminds me of a situation just this weekend in wreck 14u all-stars.  Bases loaded with 1 out, F2 drops strike 3 and BR takes off to 1st.  I was BU and gave my partner the no-catch signal and then I realized it didn't matter, F2 throws down to 1st and F3 tags out R1 who was standing off the bag by about 10 feet unsure of what to do.  Amazingly no one argued with us.  This is the same wreck ball where I had to explain to a coach that a foul tip was still live.

​This argument never goes away for some reason...

[bam]

Seriously......?