Was it fair or foul?

Question

If you saw this play, did you think it was a fair or foul ball? A few days ago, Braves OF Willie Harris hit a ball down the right field line. it hit in fair territory in the infield, then just outside the line about 30 or 40 feet past 1st base. it was called foul, but Bobby Cox argued, and the announcers said he was probably saying the ball had to have gone over 1st base in order to land where it did. Being a Braves fan, I'm obviously a little biased thinking it was fair. IF YOU ACTUALLY SAW THE PLAY, either live or on highlights, did you think it was fair or foul. and dont be retarded and say "It was foul because the Braves suck", or "It was fair because the Braves rock".

Answer 1

IT WAS FAIR!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

I can understand how the umpire was forced to react quickly because of the speed with which the ball got to him. However, he made big mistake. He read the ball based on the foul line as if it had never touched the ground. As we all know Harris drove the ball into the ground in fair territory. From the time it hits the ground the ball is judged fair or foul based on whether it crosses over/inside or outside of the bag. In order for the ball to land where it did after starting in fair territory it ABSOLUTELY HAD to cross the bag, thus making it a fair ball

Answer 3

Since the ball touched fair ground before passing first base, its fair/foul status depends on where it was when it passed first, and that's a judgment call by the umpire.

MLB Rule 2.00, definition of Foul Ball:
A FOUL BALL is a batted ball that settles on foul territory between home and first base, or between home and third base, or that bounds past first or third base on or over foul territory, or that first falls on foul territory beyond first or third base, or that, while on or over foul territory, touches the person of an umpire or player, or any object foreign to the natural ground.

If the ball bounded past the bag over foul territory, it is properly called a foul ball.

I have not seen video of the play.

Answer 4

Hmmmm, the angles showed it was foul. The ball did land outside the foul territory. Even though the Braves lost, the most interesting thing about Cox's ejection is that it leaves him one away from the record of managers with most ejections

Answer 5

From the angle of the first base line extended camera it appeared to have cut the edge off the base as it crossed. The umpire's instinct was move to get out of the way (like he was trained at umpire school) and it may have skewed his view. Plus the ball got on him in a hurry.

Bobby should have been tossed when he bent over to point at the mark and the umpire obliged.

Answer 6

i didn't see it, but if it landed in the infield, then pass by the left side of first base and landed foul, then it'd be fair, because it was a grounder in fair territory that went foul after passing first. otherwise, it's foul.

Answer 7

I thought it skimmed the corner of the base, even though it landed foul.