Fair or Foul?

[Guest]

Saw this ruled foul on Saturday.

Batted ball bounces once in the infield then appear to go over 1st base and land foul without touching in fair territory again. Was the foul call correct?

[ElkOil]

Saw this ruled foul on Saturday.

Batted ball bounces once in the infield then appear to go over 1st base and land foul without touching in fair territory again. Was the foul call correct?

It's a judgement call, so yes, it was correct.

[lilleaguer]

Your description does not give us enough information.

In this case, it depends on whether the ball was above fair territory when it bounded past (the front edge of) first base. Is so, then it is judged a fair ball. If the ball was entirely in foul territory when bounding past first base, it was a foul ball.

[noumpere]

Saw this ruled foul on Saturday.

Batted ball bounces once in the infield then appear to go over 1st base and land foul without touching in fair territory again. Was the foul call correct?

As described, this is a fair ball.  But, how it appeared to you and how it appeared to the umpire (especially if the calling umpire was at the plate) could be two different things.

[JaxRolo]

It's a judgement call, so yes, it was correct.

It's incorrect whether or not its a judgment call. 

Judgement calls are not always correct.

[maven]

It's incorrect whether or not its a judgment call. 
Judgement calls are not always correct.

I think LC's point was that a coach's contrary judgment is not sufficient evidence to conclude that the umpire's judgment was incorrect.

"I saw it fair, but he called it foul. Who's right?" — not a question we can answer without video. Unless we have reason to do otherwise, we should defer to the guy with his nose on the line.

[Rich Ives]

Your description does not give us enough information.

In this case, it depends on whether the ball was above fair territory when it bounded past (the front edge of) first base. Is so, then it is judged a fair ball. If the ball was entirely in foul territory when bounding past first base, it was a foul ball.

It can go over any part of the base - doesn't need to be the front edge.

[noumpere]

It can go over any part of the base - doesn't need to be the front edge.

He (lilleaguer) said "past ... first base" not "over ... first base).  His statement was correct.

[Rich Ives]

He (lilleaguer) said "past ... first base" not "over ... first base).  His statement was correct.

He said; "when it bounded past (the front edge of) first base. "

Fair or foul it will pass the base.  Over it when it does is what matters and it doesn't have to be the front edge..

[noumpere]

Third-world play:

 

Batted ball bounces even with the middle of the first base bag.  (a) The bounce is in fair territory (in the 1b-2b line).  The ball takes a 90* turn (that's the 3rd world part) to the right (as viewed from home plate) and then lands in foul territory (on 2BLX) and stops.  (b) The bounce is in  foul territory (on 2BLX).  The ball takes a 90* turn to the left (as viewed from home plate) and then lands in fair territory (on (1B-2B line) and stops.

 

Rulings?  (and, I'm not sure -- and I think lilleaguer might be wrong in his statement)

[lilleaguer]

Thanks for clarifying this little controversy, noumpere.

I, too, would be interested in a ruling on this issue. As a practical matter, though, it just may not have come up.