Brown. Black & Blue, Boners & Balks - The B thread

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by itjclarke

Ha, the ground ball over the bag!!! I think it's gotta be one of the single most impossible calls to make accurately, and is probably just a fair guess (see also- check swings) most of the time. I think the ground ball is different because it at least established itself in fair play when it hit the ground, thus the difference as to its being ruled fair by simply passing over the bag. The line drive didn't establish itself in fair play at any point, until it hits the ground in the outfield.. hence looking to see if the chalk pops up. I'm not saying this makes sense, but think that's the general thought behind it... it's similar to "ball crossing plain" versus dragging feet in back of endzone while "establishing possession" in football. The runner who only need to cross the plain has already established possession, while the dude catching ball has to establish possession as well as being in bounds.

Wasn't her name Topsy Turvey? or was that someone else??

The referenced play I believe was a low line drive that was ruled to have passed over third base and thus called fair by the third base umpire. I think the ball landed in foul territory. I could be wrong as I was watching Net54 at the same time.

On another play the "vicinity" rule at second base was taken to the extreme when the thirdbaseman fielded a grounder and flipped the ball to the secondbaseman. The problem however was that the shortstop was on the bag and the secondbaseman was ten feet off the bag. The relay to first was late, but the runner at second was called out. The umpire's call was upheld.

The more I know, the more I don't understand.