Baseball Question for Umpires and Players

[Sam]

I never played baseball in high school or there after (lots of softball) and I don't follow MLB since the strike so I am not 100% up on any rules changes.

 

But in today's SEC baseball championship game here is what happened and I am somewhat confused so I am asking for your input on the call.

 

Ole Miss has man on third. Ole Miss batter hits ball which bounces foul about three feet from the batters' box and at least 6 to 8 inches out of bounds.

 

The ball then bounces into the air and hits the chalk line in front of the third base bag and flies out of bounds where the LSU third baseman made a great save by diving to stop the ball. He then gets up, but his throw to first base is late, so the run scores.

 

Question 1: The ball was clearly out of bounds when the Ole Miss batter hit it. So why was it not called a foul ball?

 

Question 2:  The ball then bounces in the air and hits the chalk line where it then bounces in front of the third base bag. So is this a fair ball and play continues?

 

Thanks for your response. In the final synopsis, that play was not that important as Ole Miss clobbered LSU 9-1 since Coach Paul Mainieri wanted to save his pitchers for the NCAA regionals and the Ole Miss pitching was excellent today. But I am confused as to why the ball was not called a foul ball when it went out of bounds the first time.

 

Guys, thanks for your input. I guess I should be following MLB more often.

[deaknh03]

A ball is not foul if it starts foul but then goes fair before it gets to the base, 1st or 3rd. 

[jbsoonerfan]

The ball must cross first or third base in foul territory to be considered foul. In your example the ball was foul until it hit the chalk, this motion made it a fair ball. If the ball was then in the air and fielded by a player it is considered a live ball and in play. I always coach my third basemen to try their best to touch it in foul territory before it gets to the bag on a slow roller as it is a much harder play to make.  

[Sam]

Thanks, guys. That explains it.

 

It just seems that if the ball hits the ground in foul ball territority it should be a foul ball.

 

But not I know.  

[12poundbass]

Hmmm I'm confused too. I sounds like it was clearly foul. The way I understand the rule if it rolls foul before crossing the first or third base bag it's foul. If it's caught or touched after crossing the foul line but doesn't touch the ground then it's in play. So in your example I'd say it should be foul. 

[jbsoonerfan]

4 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

Hmmm I'm confused too. I sounds like it was clearly foul. The way I understand the rule if it rolls foul before crossing the first or third base bag it's foul. If it's caught or touched after crossing the foul line but doesn't touch the ground then it's in play. So in your example I'd say it should be foul. 

The ball started foul and then rolled back into the chalk before it got to third base and was then touched while in fair territory. Fair ball.

[Sam]

4 hours ago, jbsoonerfan said:

The ball started foul and then rolled back into the chalk before it got to third base and was then touched while in fair territory. Fair ball.

Actually, it was caught by the LSU third baseman to the left of the third base bag, out of bounds.

 

He threw his body at the ball, straight out with his left hand stretched out as far as his arm would allow to snag the ball.

 

The ball went from the bat to the ground 6 inches out of bounds and then bounced towards third base and hit the chalk about 10 feet from third where it headed foul and the LSU third baseman snagged it by the third base bag.

 

Will try to locate a photo ad post it when I can find it.

 

Thanks to all for the explanations.

[12poundbass]

4 hours ago, jbsoonerfan said:

The ball started foul and then rolled back into the chalk before it got to third base and was then touched while in fair territory. Fair ball.

Ok. I guess I wasn't aware that if it's starts foul it can be deemed fair ball if it crosses back into fair territory before crossing a bag. Interesting situation to say the least. 

[deaknh03]

3 hours ago, Sam said:

Actually, it was caught by the LSU third baseman to the left of the third base bag, out of bounds.

 

He threw his body at the ball, straight out with his left hand stretched out as far as his arm would allow to snag the ball.

 

The ball went from the bat to the ground 6 inches out of bounds and then bounced towards third base and hit the chalk about 10 feet from third where it headed foul and the LSU third baseman snagged it by the third base bag.

 

Will try to locate a photo ad post it when I can find it.

 

Thanks to all for the explanations.

So it hit fair territory, the chalk, and bounced back foul but was caught before it hit the ground again, and before it crossed third base. It was fair because the 3rd baseman caught it. He let's it go, and it doesn't cross the fair side of the bag, it's foul. He shoulda let it go.

[jbsoonerfan]

1 minute ago, deaknh03 said:

So it hit fair territory, the chalk, and bounced back foul but was caught before it hit the ground again, and before it crossed third base. It was fair because the 3rd baseman caught it. He let's it go, and it doesn't cross the fair side of the bag, it's foul. He shoulda let it go.

Great explanation and yes he should have.

[Sam]

22 hours ago, jbsoonerfan said:

Great explanation and yes he should have.

Aggressive players.

 

Nice try on his part but you all are correct...he should have let it go.

 

Thanks to all for the feedback.

 

Now to go and watch the NCAA playoffs which should be some really good baseball.

[12poundbass]

23 hours ago, deaknh03 said:

So it hit fair territory, the chalk, and bounced back foul but was caught before it hit the ground again, and before it crossed third base. It was fair because the 3rd baseman caught it. He let's it go, and it doesn't cross the fair side of the bag, it's foul. He shoulda let it go.

I'm confused now....help us out @Sam. Originally you stated the ball went from the bat to about 6" foul then back fair. I explained my interpretation of the rule which goes along with what @deaknh03 is saying which makes sense why it wasn't foul. 

 

Can you clear this up so I'm not scratching my head anymore? ?

[jbsoonerfan]

Once the ball hits the chalk it is fair until it once again touches the ground in foul territory. In this instance the ball started foul and hit the chalk, it is then a fair ball. Even though the ball was in foul territory when it was fielded it had not yet 1. Crossed the bag or 2. Touched the ground back in foul territory. This often happens in softball with a left handed slap hitter because of the spin of the ball.

[Rahlow]

I did not see the play, but a ball touched by the umpire or fielder BEFORE it reaches the base, over foul territory is foul. This play sounds like it crossed the bag, so it’s a fair ball since it last touched the ground in fair territory,

[jbsoonerfan]

Not sure why my phone logs me in as a different username. Strange. Sorry about that.