Hunter's interference on Slaught (no pun intended)
Scott Evan Decatur
of the Braves was called out for interfering with Pirate catcher Don
Slaught, I have a question. Didn't his chopper first bounce in foul
territory before going fair? Isn't that a foul ball?
--
Scott Evan Decatur (s...@das.harvard.edu)
Scott E Ivancic
No, it isn't.
For it to be considered a foul ball it must either come to rest in
foul territory(before passing either first or third base) or be touched
by a player while the ball is in foul territory.
Since the ball hit behind the plate, then bounded(untouched) into fair territory, then it is considered to be a fair ball.
Another misconception is that if a batted ball hits the plate, then it is
a foul ball. I have seen this call blown by too many sandlot umpires.
Fair territory starts at the back-most point on the plate.(not including
the black border around most plates that I have seen)
I have had to argue that point more than I care to admit.
-scott
--
Scott Ivancic | siva...@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu ===> Go Bucks!!
The Ohio State University | ap...@cleveland.freenet.edu ===> Go Tribe!!
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Joseph R. Mcdonald
>of the Braves was called out for interfering with Pirate catcher Don
>Slaught, I have a question. Didn't his chopper first bounce in foul
>territory before going fair? Isn't that a foul ball?
No. A ball is a fair ball if it is fielded in fair territory or if it lands
in fair territory beyond first or third base. A ball can hit in foul
territory and then bounce into fair territory - it is a fair ball.
As an umpire, I am always surprised when a manager yells at me,
"That was a foul ball! It hit the plate!" The plate is in fair
territory and it really wouldn't matter if it wasn't. If the
ball hits behind the plate and then shoots into fair territory, it is
a fair ball.
And the call on Slaught was obstruction, not interference. Only a
defensive player can interfere. Only an offensive player can obstruct.
Dean
--
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Dean J. Falcione New "sensitive" terms for the 90's!
(using jrmst8 by permission Short = "Vertically Impaired"
of the owner, Joe McDonald) Fat = "Horizontally Challenged"
Len Reed
>of the Braves was called out for interfering with Pirate catcher Don
>Slaught, I have a question. Didn't his chopper first bounce in foul
>territory before going fair? Isn't that a foul ball?
No. It's not fair or foul to it hits somebody or something, or goes
past 1st/third base, or stops. Ever see a fielder watch a bunt roll foul
and immediately snatch it up? He doesn't want it to roll fair again.
I'm a Braves' fan, and I thought it was a good call. I was also miffed
at Justice for watching the play. The rules say he has to go
back to second on interference, but he never left second. Both Hunter
and Justice were playing spectator and/or umpire.
--
Len Reed
Holos Software, Inc.
Voice: (404) 496-1358
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Len Reed
>
>And the call on Slaught was obstruction, not interference. Only a
>defensive player can interfere. Only an offensive player can obstruct.
Exactly backwards. I don't have
my baseball rulebook handy, but softball's the same in terminology (though
decidedly different in specifics about what constitutes int/obs and what
penalties are acesssed.).
Elsewhere, in the botched squeeze play, Hunter tried to get an obstruction
call on Slaught by grabbing him. Tim McCarver 1) said interference instead
of obstruction and 2) lead listeners to believe that had Hunter been
sucessful in grabbing Slaught that the call would have been made automatically.
No way--not with Hunter obviously chasing him.
From the ASA rulebook:
Interference is the act of an offense player...which impedes...a defensive
player.....
Obstruction is the act of
a. a defensive player....
b. a fielder....