So, about that Dodgers triple play...

[RubeBaker]

I almost brought back last season's The Umpires- When is Enough Enough thread. But, I figured I'd rather leave a dead horse in the ground.

Anyway for those of you who haven't seen it:

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/dodgers-turn-first-2-5-4-3-triple-023719180.html

I have never seen a worse screw over by an umpire in my life. It's bad enough when one player ends up out because of a botched call, but all 3 outs from a mistake? Epic fail.

Dale Scott may have jumped the gun when calling the play dead, but once he did, I don't see how 1) he let the play go on instead of calling it off and 2) why none of the umpires intervened and overturned it.

I hope San Diego finished this one under protest. Even the Umps Association quote at the end of the article pretty much says "we're not gonna say it, but he screwed up." I doubt it will get overturned still, but it has a much better chance than most of the other protests.

[UnderPressure]

It was a legit triple play. It was the umps' fault for all the confusion, but if he called that foul all the way, then he would've been more wrong because it was a fair ball. Even the Padre announcers said it was legit.

[ipitch]

I have never seen a worse screw over by an umpire in my life. It's bad enough when one player ends up out because of a botched call, but all 3 outs from a mistake? Epic fail.

The fact that 3 outs were recorded doesn't make it the worst call. It was probably going to be a DP even if it had been called properly.

[drdg]

MLB said today
that the umpire could not make the call
UNTIL THE BALL IS TOUCH
he can do all he wants and yell
but the call is NOT official until the fielder's touches the ball
when the ball was touch it was fair

http://mlb.sbnation.com/2012/4/15/2951011/dodgers-triple-play-padres-jesus-guzman

same thing if the ball is hit and rolls towards and close to the white line before touching 1st base or 3rd base
the call is not official until the ball clearly stops rolling in foul or fair ground
or the fielder touches the ball while it is in fair or foul ground

if the ball touches the base ANY WHERE before the fielder touches=it is fair

beyond the base=where the ball first touches the ground
if it touches the white line past the base=it is fair

[Bulldog19]

MLB said today
that the umpire could not make the call
UNTIL THE BALL IS TOUCH
he can do all he wants and yell
but the call is NOT official until the fielder's touches the ball
when the ball was touch it was fair

http://mlb.sbnation.com/2012/4/15/2951011/dodgers-triple-play-padres-jesus-guzman

same thing if the ball is hit and rolls towards and by the 1st base or 3rd base line
the call is not official until the ball is clearly foul (stops rolling in foul ground)
or the fielder touches the ball in fair or foul ground
if it touch the base ANY WHERE=it is fair
beyond the base=where the ball first touches the ground
if it touches the line=it is fair

Once a ball is called "dead" it's dead. And that's essentially what a foul ball is.. a "dead ball." He called that and then changed his mind it seems.

[drdg]

Once a ball is called "dead" it's dead. And that's essentially what a foul ball is.. a "dead ball." He called that and then changed his mind it seems.

different view
watch the video
at 1:27=you complete the play and let the umpires figure it out

[drdg]

It was a legit triple play. It was the umps' fault for all the confusion, but if he called that foul all the way, then he would've been more wrong because it was a fair ball. Even the Padre announcers said it was legit.

[UnderPressure]

different view
watch the video
at 1:27=you complete the play and let the umpires figure it out

That video will be taken down pretty pretty soon, LOL.

And nice pic, drdg.

[ol' aches and pains]

I thought if a batted ball bounced behind home plate, it was a foul ball, and the play was dead. Guess I was wrong.

[jnakamura]

I thought if a batted ball bounced behind home plate, it was a foul ball, and the play was dead. Guess I was wrong.

Can someone cite the official rule?

Obviously if a ball is hit fair and rolls foul then comes back fair, it's fair. But what if it lands foul first?

Another example (that I've never seen, but is possible): A batter swings and hits a ball that lands just foul and has enough spin to bring it back fair before it passes a base and gets picked up by a fielder....is it a dead ball or in play?

[drdg]

Once a ball is called "dead" it's dead. And that's essentially what a foul ball is.. a "dead ball." He called that and then changed his mind it seems.

according to this sports illustated article

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/gameflash/2012/04/15/40620_recap.html#?xid=siextra_041612

the umpire NEVER called the ball dead
he was just getting out of the way
instant replay CONFIRM that it was fair, thus a triple play
and accepted by the padres manager

sorry but I can NOT take credit for the ^^^^(post #7) photo nor its comment
the person's name is listed on the bottom right corner
however I will take credit for posting it
thank you

[metfan13]

No, a ball that hits foul then goes into fair territory before reaching 1st or 3rd base, without being touched by a player, is a fair ball. Hitting behind home is no different than hitting just foul halfway down the baseline. It's just that most balls hitting behind the plate will hit the catcher or batter before going fair.

[west coast orange and black]

jnakamura:
Obviously if a ball is hit fair and rolls foul then comes back fair, it's fair. But what if it lands foul first?

Rule 2.00 definitions

A FAIR BALL is a batted ball that settles on fair ground between home and first base, or between home and third base, or that is on or over fair territory when bounding to the outfield past first or third base, or that touches first, second or third base, or that first falls on fair territory on or beyond first base or third base, or that, while on or over fair territory touches the person of an umpire or player, or that, while over fair territory, passes out of the playing field in flight. (my italics)


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. (my italics)


in both definitions it is critical to notice "settles."
"settles" leaves the door open for a batted ball to first hit in foul territiry but then roll into fair territory.

[dgarza]

in both definitions it is critical to notice "settles."
"settles" leaves the door open for a batted ball to first hit in foul territiry but then roll into fair territory.

Yes.

Strange, put given the right spin, you can hit a fair ball by batting backwards.

[KevinWI]

On a marginally related note...

Brewers played Dodgers today in an afternoon game. Jerry Hairston Jr. made two great grabs to stop fair balls from leaving the infield. They would have been hits, and in one case, one stopped a Brewers run (Carlos Gomez was on 3B) when the score was 4-3. I suspect this Dodgers infield is really freaking good, defensively.