Catcher kicks ball into fair ball causing it to go foul

[Guest Larry S]

Batter hits a fair ball that spins about 3 foot in front of home plate and comes to a complete stop right on 1st base line (fair ball).

The catcher on his way to field the ball kicks the bat that a right handed batter had dropped right in front of home plate and the bat knocks

the ball into foul territory.  What is that call on that?

[noumpere]

Once the ball stops, it's a fair ball.  Nothing can change that.

[Guest Larry S]

Great, I got that call right.  So what if the ball would have still been moving?  Would that be catcher interference or nothing?

[Rich Ives]

1 hour ago, Guest Larry S said:

Great, I got that call right.  So what if the ball would have still been moving?  Would that be catcher interference or nothing?

I'd vote for fair ball - play on based on the blowing the ball foul ruling.

[Mussgrass]

2 hours ago, Guest Larry S said:

Great, I got that call right.  So what if the ball would have still been moving?  Would that be catcher interference or nothing?

Fair ball. If it is touched in fair territory it is a fair ball. Catcher interference on hindering himself?

[noumpere]

1 hour ago, Rich Ives said:

I'd vote for fair ball - play on based on the blowing the ball foul ruling.

 

2 minutes ago, Mussgrass said:

Fair ball. If it is touched in fair territory it is a fair ball. Catcher interference on hindering himself?

Rich -- yes if it were intentional; this wasn't.

Mussgrass -- yes if it was touched by F2; this wasn't.

We know that if the bat was still (or the bat was moving, without intent, in FED) and the ball hit it and then went foul, it would be a foul ball.

It seems weird to "reward" the defense here -- a very interesting play, imo.

[Mussgrass]

Sorry, totally misread the question! 

[Guest Larry S]

I was the PU, what I saw was the ball came to a complete stop so I pointed fair.  What I thought happened then was that the bat rolled into the ball and then it went into foul

territory.  I ruled that it was a fair ball because the ball had came to a complete stop before being hit and that the batter/runner was safe.  As you can imagine the fielding teams

manager was furious.  This was about my 14th game umpiring so I called time and discussed with BU.  He said what he saw was the catcher accidentally kick that bat into the ball.  Either way our ruling was safe.  Sounds like the right call if the catcher did kick bat into ball but what if the if the catcher hadn't kicked the bat into ball?  Would the batter be out for the bat touching the ball twice or that wouldn't apply since the ball came to a complete stop first?  I was surprised such a strange play happened so early into my umpiring experience and just trying to learn the best I can from it. 

My bad on the catcher interference.  You are right, once I thought is through it doesn't make since on the catcher interfering with himself! 

This site is awesome and very helpful.

[Rich Ives]

3 hours ago, noumpere said:

 

Rich -- yes if it were intentional; this wasn't.  Maybe - maybe not.

 

There's a rule about a thrown bat by the batter.  No rule about a kicked bat by the catcher.  8.01(c ).  Fair ball. Safe. 

 

[spark2212]

On 6/4/2019 at 7:08 AM, Guest Larry S said:

Batter hits a fair ball that spins about 3 foot in front of home plate and comes to a complete stop right on 1st base line (fair ball).

The catcher on his way to field the ball kicks the bat that a right handed batter had dropped right in front of home plate and the bat knocks

the ball into foul territory.  What is that call on that?

Fair ball. The defense interacted with the ball in fair territory. 

[spark2212]

On 6/4/2019 at 8:21 AM, Rich Ives said:

I'd vote for fair ball - play on based on the blowing the ball foul ruling.

Again, the defense first interacted with the ball in fair territory. Whether the ball was moving or not, it’s a fair ball.