|
| Dan Y.
May 9, 2010
8:19:29 AM
Entry #: 3468586
| 1.) Actually, both umpires have have been correct. If an umpire is touched by a fair batted ball before it passes the infielders (not including the pitcher), the ball is dead, and the batter is credited with a single. Other runners would only advance if they were forced to advance with the batter taking first base.
So, in your high school scenario, where you have a runner at second when the umpire was hit. The correct ruling is to place the batter on first base, and keep the runner at second.
Now, in Little League, the field umpires need to be positioned behind the bases, so they can observe if a runner leaves a base early. If an umpire is touched by a fair batted ball in this scenario, he is probably (99.99999% of the time) going to be hit after the ball has passed the infielders, which means the ball stays live and the teams have to play the bounce.
2.) In Little League, the standard mechanic is to have the field umpire behind the infielders and a few steps to the first base side of second base, when there is a runner only on first base. With multiple runners on, or a runner on only second or third, the umpire is usually in a mirrored position, being a few steps to the third base side of second base. However, unlike the positioning for larger fields, where everything is fairly universal, Little League positioning can be modified. Since the bases are so close together and the field umpire is positioned behind the bases, sometimes crews will agree that a plate umpire will take all steals into third base. That isn't the taught mechanic, but it is not uncommon to see.
Dan Y.
|
