Fielding

[Guest Connie]

Is a player allowed to use the field net while fielding the ball (e.g., grabbing onto it for stability)?

[Senor Azul]

A defender is pretty much allowed to do anything he (or she) needs to do on the field to make a catch. The following text is taken from a definition of the term catch for professional baseball. It does not mention field netting per se but it does tells us that a fielder has great leeway to make a play.

From the 2021 Minor League Baseball Umpire Manual (section 10.2, p. 157) (this is true of FED and NCAA as well):

A fielder may not jump over any fence, railing or rope marking the limits of the playing field in order to catch the ball. A fielder may (1) reach over such fence, railing or rope to make a catch; (2) fall over the same after completing the catch; (3) jump on top of a railing or fence marking the boundary of the field to make a catch; or (4) climb onto a fence or on a field tarp and catch the ball. In all four cases the catch would be legal, as dictated by the best judgment of the umpire.

…As provided in Casebook Comment to Official Baseball Rule 5.09(a)(1), no fielder may step into any out-of-play area to make a catch. However, if a fielder, after catching a fly ball on the playing surface, steps or falls into an out-of-play area, at any point while in possession of the ball, the base runners shall be entitled to advance one base and the ball shall be dead.

[Replacematt]

4 minutes ago, Guest Connie said:

Is a player allowed to use the field net while fielding the ball (e.g., grabbing onto it for stability)?

Yes, unless there's some ground rule to the contrary.

[Rich Ives]

18 hours ago, Matt said:

Yes, unless there's some ground rule to the contrary.

Ground rules cannot contravene the rule book.

 

[Replacematt]

6 hours ago, Rich Ives said:

Ground riles cannot contravene the rule book.

 

It wouldn't. 

[Rich Ives]

2 hours ago, Matt said:

It wouldn't. 

If the rule book says you can stand on the fence you cannot make a ground rule that says you cannot - legally anyhow.

[Replacematt]

1 hour ago, Rich Ives said:

If the rule book says you can stand on the fence you cannot make a ground rule that says you cannot - legally anyhow.

We're not talking about that. 

[beerguy55]

On 4/9/2022 at 8:38 AM, Rich Ives said:

Ground rules cannot contravene the rule book.

 

Tropicana Field says otherwise.

[noumpere]

On 4/9/2022 at 9:38 AM, Rich Ives said:

Ground rules cannot contravene the rule book.

 

A strict reading seems to indicate that the managers can agree on any ground rules.  If they can't agree, then the umpire makes the ground rules and these (made by the umpire) cannot conflict with playing rules:

 

The manager of the home team shall present to the umpire-in-chief
and the opposing manager any ground rules he thinks necessary
covering the overflow of spectators upon the playing field, batted
or thrown balls into such overflow, or any other contingencies. If
these rules are acceptable to the opposing manager they shall be
legal. If these rules are unacceptable to the opposing manager, the
umpire-in-chief shall make and enforce any special ground rules he
thinks are made necessary by ground conditions, which shall not
conflict with the official playing rules.

 

 

[Senor Azul]

To our guest, Connie, I hope you are still checking back for answers to your question. I gave you an answer already but I have read some more about what is and what isn’t legal. It’s all about what is considered live ball territory (LBT) and dead ball territory (DBT) and where the fielder is.

A ball that touches DBT must be dead.

If a fielder enters DBT and then initially touches a ball, the ball is dead.

A standing fielder, both feet entirely on LBT but leaning and touching a spectator or spectator seat (or as in your question, a protective net): the fielder is on LBT.

If personnel of either team on DBT help prevent a fielder’s fall into a dugout or other DBT, the fielder is not considered to have fallen or to have entered DBT.

So a fielder can lean against or touch pretty much anything and make a legal catch if he has both feet entirely in LBT.

[Velho]

28 minutes ago, Senor Azul said:

So a fielder can lean against or touch pretty much anything and make a legal catch if he has both feet entirely in LBT.

Any further idea of what "in LBT" means? Does it comprise of "on or over"?

[Senor Azul]

I think this will answer your question, Mr. Velho.

From the Wendelstedt Rules and Interpretations Manual (2013 edition, p. 2) in his definition of the term catch:

If a fielder leaps to make a catch, it shall be legal as long as the origin of the leap was from live ball territory, and where the ball was caught with one or both feet on or over the playing field, and neither foot (any portion) on the ground in dead ball territory.

[Velho]

Thank you @Senor Azul Good to have the cite that supports play like this:

 

 

[urout17]

 

 

[urout17]

He's got a knack of doing it....

 

[Senor Azul]

You know, Mr. Velho, we have posted before about this photo of the tremendous softball catch. Thanks for the reminder though. A truly spectacular play! It was in a thread titled High School Softball Catch Rule in the Ask the Umpire forum in July 2021. Here’s what I posted then—

2020 NFHS Softball Rule 2 SECTION 9 CATCH

ART. 4 . . . For a legal catch, a fielder must catch and have secure possession of the ball before stepping, touching or falling into a dead-ball area. A fielder who falls over or through the fence after making a catch shall be credited with the catch. A fielder who catches a ball while contacting or stepping on a collapsible fence, which is not completely horizontal, is credited with a catch.

2019 NFHS Softball Case Book Play 5.1.1 Situation K:  While attempting to make a catch, F3 (a) leaves live-ball territory with one foot and then steps back into live-ball territory to make the catch, or (b) dives from live-ball territory and, before coming to rest landing completely in dead-ball territory, makes the catch. RULING:  In (a) and (b), the catch is permitted. In (b), the ball becomes dead as soon as either one of F3’s feet touches completely in dead-ball territory, or any other part of her body touches dead-ball territory. Runners are awarded one base. (5-1-1i NOTE, 8-4-3h)

[Velho]

2 hours ago, urout17 said:

He's got a knack of doing it....

 

So the top of the wall is LBT?

[MadMax]

9 hours ago, urout17 said:

He's got a knack of doing it....

 

Ugh. I was at this game. I knew it was a valid catch the moment he made it, but I broadcast – much to the chagrin of my Cubs-fan girlfriend sitting next to me – that R1 is awarded 2B!

7 hours ago, Velho said:

So the top of the wall is LBT?

Yes. The same holds true about an outfield fence. If the ball bounces up off the top of the wall and back into the field of play, it is not OOP. Or, if it rolls atop the outfield fence or wall, and is either retrieved, or it falls back into the field of play, it is not OOP. Only if it falls beyond the top of the fence or wall, or contacts a perpendicular surface "beyond" the top of the (typically yellow-topped) fence or wall is it considered OOP.

[flyingron]

For a second I was seeing double, he landed on top of a guy wearing a Rizzo jersey.