MyFox
 

Gene_Lavanchy's Blog

by Gene_Lavanchy from Dedham, MA

Last Post 62 days, 15 hours Ago


Ask the Ump
May 13, 2008 | 6:01 AM
Category: Sports
Report This Post

Featured On: MyFoxBoston
If you are even a marginal sports fan, a player, parent or coach, then you've had to deal with the rules of the game. Seeing that it's baseball season, we thought we would launch a new segment, "Ask the Ump."

Ed King has half-a-century of umpiring experience. I got to know him while attending various baseball games, and we would quiz each other on rules and odd situations that have surfaced in baseball games. For example, how can a player get credited with an unassisted triple play without ever touching the baseball?

So we decided it might be fun to bring all of this to the FOX25 Morning News and myfoxboston.com. To start with, Ed came up with the most misinterpreted rules in youth baseball, rules most people get wrong or simply don't understand. We taped 4 segments with the help of some Walpole Little Leaguers.

We want you to send along your questions about the rules, or things you've seen--and Ed will address the rules and/or your attempts to stump him. We already have a few questions that have been submitted. In terms of the unassisted triple play question, give it some thought, and we'll have Ed explain the answer down the road.

Click here to watch "Ask the Ump."

119 Comments |  Add a Comment

Member Comments Total Comments: 119
Page 1 of 6
1
2
3
 Last
fenwaydav read my blog view my photos
May 13, 2008 | 8:18 AM

I guess this is where you ask the ump, since it keeps bringing me here when I click "Ask the Ump"

My question is: The player slides into Home (or any other base for that matter) He is called out (maybe even safe). The manager or player or both protest the call. Why can't the umpire resort to video (like they do in football) to watch the play over and from different angles like we sometimes do on TV.?
JoshS read my blog view my photos
May 13, 2008 | 12:01 PM

Gene-
You mention an example in your Blog but you didn't give us the answer!

how can a player get credited with an unassisted triple play without ever touching the baseball?
Gene_Lavanchy read my blog
May 13, 2008 | 12:27 PM

FenwayDav:
Major League Baseball will never use replay on judgement calls, like safe, out balls or strikes. There has been some consideration in using replay for home run calls--liek if the ball really cleared the fence of was fair or foul.

Josh--here you go. Runners on first and second with no outs---the batter hits an infield fly toward the shortstop. The batter is out and the shortstop gets credit for the putout (1).
The runner at first was stealing on the play and isn't paying attention--he passes the runner at second and therefore is out (2). The runner on second is off the base and gets hit with the infield fly, so he is out (3). The shortstop gets credit for all three outs without ever touching the baseball!
Gene_Lavanchy read my blog
May 13, 2008 | 12:41 PM

Also--I want to respond to a great question e-mailed to me at another e-mail address.

Man on third, one out in the bottom of the last inning. The home team hits a sac fly scoring the game winning run, the visiting team starts coming of the field, with some of the players making it to the dugout. But the visitors decide to appeal at third, claiming the runner left early. The question is, how long does the defensive team have to appeal?

Ump Ed King tells me as long as the defensive team has at least one player still on the field in fair territory, they can appeal--be it the end of an inning or the end of the game. Once all the players cross over into foul ground, a defensive team loses its right to appeal.
fenwaydav read my blog view my photos
May 13, 2008 | 4:25 PM

Thanks Gene! That lastone about the appeal, I seem to recall that happening a couple of weeks ago. I think.....
steking read my blog
May 14, 2008 | 9:12 AM

Please clarify the over throw rules. How many bases do th runners advance when its the first throw by an infielder and the difference when it's the first throw by an outfielder. Most umps get this wrong repeatedly.
bllmom
May 14, 2008 | 10:15 AM

OK, how about this one....Bases are loaded and the batter hits a ground ball that hits the 2nd base runner advancing to third. The ump calls him out. Now, does the 3rd base runner advance to home or stay at third since there is technically no force??
Happyg read my blog
May 14, 2008 | 11:13 AM

Gene, if the runner on first was "stealing" second, for him to go past the runner on second base, he'd already "stolen" the base. Now if you said that the runner on first thought there were two outs instead of less than two, and ran by the runner slightly off of second, well, then you'd have something.In six years of coaching I can tell you it shouldn't happen, but it does.



Josh--here you go. Runners on first and second with no outs---the batter hits an infield fly toward the shortstop. The batter is out and the shortstop gets credit for the putout (1).
The runner at first was stealing on the play and isn't paying attention--he passes the runner at second and therefore is out (2). The runner on second is off the base and gets hit with the infield fly, so he is out (3). The shortstop gets credit for all three outs without ever touching the baseball!
Happyg read my blog
May 14, 2008 | 11:34 AM

Billmom,
If the umpire calls the runner out, then the ball is considered dead. But under certain circumstances the ball may, or may not be "dead", it's up to the umpire. If he (or she) rules that the ball should have been played by a defensive player who didn't make the play and no other defensive player could have made that play, then the ball remains "live" and the runners advance as if it never hit the runner, as long as the runner (in the opinion of the umpire) doesn't intentionally re-direct the ball or impede the progress of the defensive play.
bllmom
May 14, 2008 | 12:11 PM

Thanks happyg. This situation happened last night and there was confusion because the ump called the runner out and sent the 3rd base runner back to 3rd. But the opposing team argued that the bases were loaded and the runner at 3rd should have scored. So the ump (14 years old or so) awarded him home plate. I thought his original call was the right one.
Happyg read my blog
May 14, 2008 | 2:12 PM

If the bases were loaded the runner on third was "forced" to run, thus, he should have been awarded one base. This may help:

He is touched by a fair ball in fair territory before the ball has touched or passed an infielder. The ball is dead and no runner may score, nor runners advance, except runners forced to advance.
steking read my blog
May 14, 2008 | 10:27 PM

Runner on first. He's stealing on the pitch. The pitch is delivered and it's in the dirt. It bounces of the catchers chest protecter and starts rolling toward the dugout. By now the runner that started at first is half way to third when the ball rolls into the dugout. Where does the ump place the runner? See how many of you know the answer. Not you Gene. We've discussed this before i believe.
Happyg read my blog
May 15, 2008 | 7:43 AM

One base. The ball is dead. Unless of course the catcher causes the ball to go into the dugout. Then two bases should be awarded.
Happyg read my blog
May 15, 2008 | 9:01 AM

Sorry for jumping in Geno. I've had a little extra spare time lately.
steking read my blog
May 15, 2008 | 11:48 AM

Happyg the question is "where do you place the runner?" One base from where he was when the ball went dead, or one base from where he was when the pitch was thrown? Does he go to 2nd or 3rd?
Happyg read my blog
May 15, 2008 | 12:42 PM

steking
One base from when the pitch was thrown. he goes to second base.
Happyg read my blog
May 15, 2008 | 1:43 PM

This may help:

One base, if a ball, pitched to the batter, or thrown by the pitcher from his position on the pitcher’s plate to a base to catch a runner, goes into a stand or a bench, or over or through a field fence or backstop. The ball is dead;
APPROVED RULING: When a wild pitch or passed ball goes through or by the catcher, or deflects off the catcher, and goes directly into the dugout, stands, above the break, or any area where the ball is dead, the awarding of bases shall be one base. One base shall also be awarded if the pitcher while in contact with the rubber, throws to a base, and the throw goes directly into the stands or into any area where the ball is dead.
critter171 read my blog
May 15, 2008 | 10:41 PM

Gene_Lavanchy- You forgot to add fair foul for judement calls.

Happyg-when its a foul or time call the ball is dead. the ball is alive even with an out. or hbp or runner touchs the baseball before a feilder does.

Here a strange question if you ask I know the answer to it.

Why don't some coachs and umpire know that on a foul tip (stirke still alive) only catcher can catch it. can run . they assume its foul or out of play?

On a foul tip only the catcher can catch it or else it be foul ball.
critter171 read my blog
May 15, 2008 | 10:44 PM

Happyg- on most rontuine outs. the balls is still alive.

the only time the ball becomes dead are the following.

1. time 2. hbp 3. balls touches runner advcaing to the nearst base before inefeilder not incudluing catcher.


here a better question for ask the ump.

Who has a better view for infeild fly rule? Base umpire or plate umpire? who should be making the call?
Happyg read my blog
May 16, 2008 | 7:24 AM

The ball is dead upon being hit by pitch, and if the ball hits a runner before it goes by a fielder. If a fielder fails to make the play and no other player can make that play (in the opinion of the umpire)the ball remains live.

critter171
May 15, 2008 | 10:41 PM
the ball is alive even with an out. or hbp or runner touchs the baseball before a feilder does.
Page 1 of 6
1
2
3
 Last


Write your comment below:




Gene_Lavanchy

Co-host of the FOX 25 Morning News, weekdays from 5-9.

Member Since: 2/15/2007


 

RSS: XMLWhat is RSS?