attention all umpires.....HELP!!!?

Question

I need to know that I'm not crazy. I need clarification on the following:
1. If a ball is fouled "off" the backstop, and caught by the catcher, I was informed that the catcher is charged with a put out, and the batter is called out.(Huhhhhhh!!!!!!....Isn't a rebounded foul ball considered a "dead ball"?)
2. If a pitch is foul tipped into the catcher's mitt, I was informed that the catcher is not credited with a put out, UNLESS it is the third strike. (wha' the explicative deleted.....isn't it consided a foul out, regardless of the hitter's count?)
3. I was informed that the first and third baseman are allowed to position themselves in foul territory, in order to hold the runner on base. This is done in order to get behind the bag, which enables a quicker tag on the baserunner. Firstbaseman, Keith Hernandez(1986 Mets), used to erase the foul line(in front and behind first base) in order to position his feet in foul territory. I thought this was illegal!!!

Answer 1

1. Excuse me while I laugh... No, the batter is not out, as the ball was not caught in flight.

2. That is correct. A foul tip is treated as a swing and a miss.

3. All fielders other than the catcher must be in fair territory at the time of the pitch. This means both feet.

Answer 2

1. A ball that is touched, or settles in foul territory is foul. It is also foul if it touches a fence, dugout roof, light pole, etc in foul territory. It CAN rebound off an outfield fence and be in play. It can't be caught for an out once it has touched anything other than defensive player. (yes it can bounce off the shortstop's head and be caught for an out by the pitcher.

2.If a pitch is foul tipped into the catchers mitt, that is a strike and the ball is live. If the catchers catches a foul ball in flight, that is a put-out by the catcher. There is a HUGE difference between a foul ball, and a foul tip! A foul tip is when a ball touches the bat and goes "sharply and directly to the catcher's glove/hand". The TV announcers make me cringe every time they say that was "foul-tipped inthe dirt!" That can not happen!

3. All defensive players (except the catcher who must be in the catchers box) must be in fair territory at the time of the pitch. One foot partially in fair territory meets the rule. The penalty would be an illegal pitch called, ball on the batter, or a balk if runners are on base. This is a delayed dead ball call, and the offense would get the option of taking the play, or penalty.

Answer 3

1. Anything caught off the backstop is not an out.
2. A caught foul tip is considered a stike, not an out (unless it's a third strike).
3. All players must be in fair territory before a pitcher pitches, with the exception of the catcher.

Answer 4

1.) The first one is extra confusing because the ball is considered dead if it fouls into the backstop, the catcher cannot make a play on it. If it's not fouled but swung at and missed by the catcher, the ball can be played off the backstop to either tag the batter out on dropped third strike or hold runners at their base.

2.) Foul tip into the catcher's mit is only an out if it's thrid strike. Period.

3.) The basemen can position themselves in foul territoy only if they have one foot inside the line.

Answer 5

To summarize:
1. When batted ball touches backstop, ball is dead and no out can be recorded.
2. A foul tip by definition is caught or goes bat to glove/hand directly and speedily before being legally caught by catcher or infielder (Rule 2.00 -- definition of foul tip). Ball stays live as if ball was never contacted by bat.
3. All defensive players other than catcher must be in fair territory which is determined by haviung one foot in fair territory (used to be both but it was adjusted a few yrs ago.).

Hope this helps.

Answer 6

I was an umpire co-ordinator for 3 years, and I ran into problems like this all the time.

1. A batted ball hitting any fence in foul territory is dead. If it hits a fence in fair territory (such as off the outfield wall), it is considered a ground ball, it's in play but any unforced runners need to be tagged.

2. A caught foul tip is only an out on the 3rd strike, otherwise it's just a foul ball. Also, runners can attempt to steal on a caught foul tip, but not a dropped one.

3. I think the fielder's have the right ot stand wherever they want, although I'm not sure.
It's bad positioning to begin with. You always want to catch the ball in front of the runner, so as not to allow a sliding runner to block the ball. Also, if you field the ball behind the base, your momentum is taking you out towards the outfield and away from the base. Infielders should always position themselves on the inside corner of their base and sweep tag towards the baseline, which is where the ball wants to go anyway.

Answer 7

OK on the 1st one as soon as it hits the back stop it is a dead ball no catch no out!

2nd only on a 3rd strike is it an out on a foul tip!

3rd all players on the defensive side except the catcher must be in fair play!

Answer 8

1. After it touches something but your glove its a dead ball.
2. Any time you foul tip it into somebody's glove no matter what the count is, its and out.
3. Yes this is legal. As you said Hernandez, and rarely does Wright ever do it but does, you may stand in foul territory