Ball Stuck in Fence After Wild Pitch

If the ball was stuck in the fence 6 feet off the ground I don't know how the ump could have missed this call.

The ball should have been declared dead and the base runner awarded one base. (3rd)

Should the runner who was on second been given the plate or to stay at third? By the way, the umpires (both) had a very bad night. I'm saying this and we won. The opposing coach should not have been tossed, wasn't near the field umpire and was walking back to his dugout.

baseballpapa,

Third base only on the award.

The award in this case (one base) is determined by the base occupied by the runner at the time of the pitch.

Too many umpires today are way too sensitive--they think it is their game not the players

Look at them cross-eyed and they want to toss you.

In the case you cite how can they not know the rule but then I had an ump who did not know that a bunt on the third strike which went foul as a strike out--he argued with me that it was just a foul ball---I made him take out his t rule book--I am still waiting for an apology LOL

once the ball became stuck in the fence 6ft up, i would have ruled it a dead ball. the award would have been 1 base(third).

I agree with everything,considering the little bit of information that was given, it would appear that the ump should have called the ball dead. However, once the catcher reached for the ball and tried to unlodge it then the baserunner can get all he can get.

As an umpire, on a passed ball the first thing I try to do is to get out of the way. If the ball passes me on the right I then open to right to give the catcher room to get by, and visa versa on the left side. Once I open up I look for the ball.

Not knowing how much room there was behind the plate and the backstop, the amount of "hesistation" the catcher took before he unlodged the ball in the umpires judgement the play stands.

If the catcher held up his arms and did nothing, then it would have made the call more obvious and the ump should have killed the play. If the ump did not kill the play, then you have a concern.

If by the time the ump was in position, and the catcher saw the runner advancing and reached for the ball then all bets are off.

I suppose if the runner was safe, then the coach would not have said anything.

The ump probably made the right call.

quote:

Originally posted by baseballpapa:
The opposing coach should not have been tossed, wasn't near the field umpire and was walking back to his dugout.

I obviously wasn't there, but I'm interested in your evidence for this claim. Could you hear everything he said? I've had coaches ask to be run (read that as "say magic words") as they are walking away from me, but that doesn't mean I missed those obvious ejections.

Heck when I was coaching the only time I got dumped (and I deserved it) was while I was walking away from the clown who was umpiring.

When the ball got stuck in the fencing (dead ball), I dont believe that the catcher grabbing the ball out, wipes away the dead ball situation--still dead ball- 1 base.

Once the catcher pulled the ball out of the fence, it was no longer a dead ball.

In my pre-game conferences with the team managers, I always point out that a ball stuck in the fence or behind the batter's eye tarp in center field is out of play. Fielders need to throw up their hands so the umps can confirm it, but if the fielders retrieve the ball and put it back in play instead of throwing up their hands, it's a "live ball" as we won't be able to confirm it was really hung up and out of play.

I believe what we are talking about here is whether the umpire saw that the ball was stuck in the fence or the catcher pulled it out before the ump saw that it was stuck.

If the ump saw that the ball was stuck he should have declared the ball dead immediately no matter how quickly the catcher retrieved it. Any ball six feet off the ground and stationary is not defying gravity on its own. (please excuse the sarcasm) It is lodged and should be declared dead.

If, however, the ball was pulled out before the ump saw that it was lodged in the fence and the first thing the ump saw was the ball in the catcher's hand then play on. The ump would have had no evidence that the ball was ever lodged in the fence.

I am a part time umpire if ,the ball is stuck and the catcher cant get it out then he should put his hands up and it would be considered a dead ball if he can easily get it out then it is still in play.

Thought this topic was dead, but you umps are saying different things. Once a ball is declared dead, I cannot imagine that pulling the ball out by the catcher renders it alive again.

The ump saw the ball in the fence -- no doubt.

What is being said is being misunderstood. If the ball lodges and the umpire sees it then it is dead. If the catcher unlodges the ball without it being noticed by the PU then it would remain live.

And if the umpire doesn't see the ball stuck in the fence 6 feet up then he must be asleep and shouldn't be out there in the first place.

Most times that is true but there can be certain fields that it is possible to miss. I work an old HS field that the backstop is only about 15 ft behind the plate. When a ball goes through you have to clear the catcher and then find the ball. Although it shouldn't happen it could be possible for the catcher to shield you off and pull it fast enough to miss the deadball call.