Non played fair ball

[Guest JB ump]

A batter ducks to avoid a pitch and leaves bat up behind him but the ball strikes the bat and lands in fair territory. THEN no one makes a play. The batter didn't run to first and the pitcher just came in and picked up the ball, returned to the mound, and set up for the next pitch. What is the call? Just continue? What about the ball/strike count?

[SH0102]

4 minutes ago, Guest JB ump said:

A batter ducks to avoid a pitch and leaves bat up behind him but the ball strikes the bat and lands in fair territory. THEN no one makes a play. The batter didn't run to first and the pitcher just came in and picked up the ball, returned to the mound, and set up for the next pitch. What is the call? Just continue? What about the ball/strike count?

It’s a live ball, they can’t “reset” without you allowing them to do so.  Point it fair, and if/when it’s obvious they have no clue it’s a live ball, you can announce “it’s a live ball guys” and let them get the out or batter try to advance.

I am assuming this is a very young age.

If even after announcing, no one does anything, assuming this is like 8/9 rec, you could prob get away with calling it a strike and move on, with a learning opportunity about why that’s a live fair ball

[MadMax]

3 hours ago, SH0102 said:

If even after announcing, no one does anything, assuming this is like 8/9 rec, you could prob get away with calling it a strike and move on, with a learning opportunity about why that’s a live fair ball

At this point, in this context, I once again bring up my campaign’s essential question – “Why are we (umpires) here?” Clearly, if this is a recreational, learning-about-baseball environment, you don’t need an umpire; you need an instructor or teacher. 

 

[Velho]

56 minutes ago, MadMax said:

Clearly, if this is a recreational, learning-about-baseball environment, you don’t need an umpire; you need an instructor or teacher. 

Agreed. Interested from OP to know age and league.

[Guest JB ump]

5 hours ago, Guest JB ump said:

A batter ducks to avoid a pitch and leaves bat up behind him but the ball strikes the bat and lands in fair territory. THEN no one makes a play. The batter didn't run to first and the pitcher just came in and picked up the ball, returned to the mound, and set up for the next pitch. What is the call? Just continue? What about the ball/strike count? This was rec ball for 12u. I was just stunned that no one said anything. No players, coaches, or even a fan(and they know everything) lol

 

[Mudisfun]

Umpire, go to the inside point of plate and "SCREAM" fair ball by repeatedly and aggressively pointing into fair territory.  Since you are standing in front of the plate, at some point hopefully one of these 12U players, coaches, or maybe an umpire in the stands will vocalize 'run Johnny, run!".

Nothing else you can really do... at some point someone may notice the 6' tall dude dressed in black pointing fair and not letting the pitcher pitch...

[ArchAngel72]

EEK....

 

My God..

 

Now LL is of course specially at the 8-10u level an instructional thing.  I always tell the coaches and players pre game at each dugout.  Guys Play it like its live until I say OUT or FOUL.  If you do not hear those never ever assume you are SAFE

Early in the season I do the same with the 12U teams but after a week.. nope they are on there own and we do have some swinging bunts that coaches and players are screaming run run run.. 

So yeah these guys understand that.  But if what happened there was in my game . I would have been pointing towards center field and moved to 1st base extended to watch for runner interference and just sat there like that with my arm pointed to center.   I would not get back behind the plate, not until an out or a safe happened.

Come to think of it that did happen at an 8-10u game for me about 5 years ago and well yeah I stood there pointing the batter stood in the box and the coaches were yelling run.  he did not and was tagged out then looked and me and said wasnt that foul it was in the batters box.

Even the coach tried that and I showed him where the ball was when the pitcher picked it up gave him the 1st base extended view and said what do you think.  He was like OH yeah that is fair... 

 

 

 

[BigBlue4u]

17 minutes ago, Mudisfun said:

Umpire, go to the inside point of plate and "SCREAM" fair ball by repeatedly and aggressively pointing into fair territory.

I would definitely not do that.  What I would do is hold a point to fair territory and in a voice just loud enough to be heard by the players closest to the ball say, "fair ball."  And, repeat until somebody does something.  I have done this in a handful of games over the years even up to the D1 level, and it has worked very well for me. The reason for underselling this is because players are (presumably) not expecting to hear a vocal call on a fair ball. 

[Mudisfun]

35 minutes ago, BigBlue4u said:

I would definitely not do that.  What I would do is hold a point to fair territory and in a voice just loud enough to be heard by the players closest to the ball say, "fair ball."  And, repeat until somebody does something.  I have done this in a handful of games over the years even up to the D1 level, and it has worked very well for me. The reason for underselling this is because players are (presumably) not expecting to hear a vocal call on a fair ball. 

 You missed the quotes in the scream part...

Scream as in pointing fair and pumping the arm. Nothing vocalized...

[The Man in Blue]

8 hours ago, Mudisfun said:

Umpire, go to the inside point of plate and "SCREAM" fair ball by repeatedly and aggressively pointing into fair territory.  Since you are standing in front of the plate, at some point hopefully one of these 12U players, coaches, or maybe an umpire in the stands will vocalize 'run Johnny, run!".

Nothing else you can really do... at some point someone may notice the 6' tall dude dressed in black pointing fair and not letting the pitcher pitch...

 

L'il Timmy: "Coach, it must be a foul ball.  They aren't supposed to say anything if it is fair."

[Jimurray]

7 minutes ago, The Man in Blue said:

 

L'il Timmy: "Coach, it must be a foul ball.  They aren't supposed to say anything if it is fair."

Context and reading the whole thread sometimes helps. Jumping in without doing so, as our old friend @Rich Ives has done in the past just leaves pointless posts.

[The Man in Blue]

... and another  missed.

[Jimurray]

3 minutes ago, The Man in Blue said:

... and another  missed.

It wasn't blue but numerous other things have swished over my head without recognition.

[Aging_Arbiter]

16 hours ago, Mudisfun said:

 You missed the quotes in the scream part...

Scream as in pointing fair and pumping the arm. Nothing vocalized...

I just figured it was a left coast kinda thing. 

  there, that should cover it............

[Mudisfun]

4 hours ago, Aging_Arbiter said:

I just figured it was a left coast kinda thing. 

  there, that should cover it............

Made me chuckle... my buddies business is named 'the Left Coast Company'...

[SeeingEyeDog]

I will point this play fair, say nothing, hope there is a time limit on the game...and point it fair until the time limit runs out.

~Dawg

[wolfe_man]

5 minutes ago, SeeingEyeDog said:

I will point this play fair, say nothing, hope there is a time limit on the game...and point it fair until the time limit runs out.

~Dawg

I was wondering when someone would bring up the time limit approach.

[The Man in Blue]

10 hours ago, wolfe_man said:

I was wondering when someone would bring up the time limit approach.

 

Look at you, standing out there patiently and not saying anything ... 😉