Fair or Foul?

[triplecrown]

Left handed batter up hits a one hop line drive tailing away spinner down 3rd base line. Ball hits first in fair territory about 8 feet from bag a foot inside the line and then spins towards foul territory landing in foul territory EVEN with the bag a FOOT foul, and continues foul. My question is doesnt the ball have to have to cross some part of the bag and land foul to be considered a fair ball. This was ruled fair and cost us a two run triple and the we lose 4-2. Now I was sitting right on first base side right on foul line and saw this play, and it happened to be in first inning, so dirt was fresh and you could even see ball mark where it hit foul. Now if you tell me that if a ball hits foul even with bag without crossing bag, then I learned something new today.

[UmpSteve]

Sounds like less of a question about the rule than a statement that you disagreed with judgment of the umpire.

On a bounding ball, where it hits before or after the bag isn't pertinent. If, the SOLE JUDGMENT OF THE UMPIRE, a bounding ball crosses any part of the bag in flight, it is a fair ball.

[joemcq51]

On a bounding ball, where it hits before or after the bag isn't pertinent.

That is correct. The ball bouncing fair or foul has no meaning as long as some ground contact is made prior to the base. Once it makes contact with the ground, it is completely the umpires discretion as to whether the ball is fair or foul as it crosses the bag. A fly ball is slightly different. If it remains airborne past the base, then where it lands (fair or foul) would come into play. Hope that helps. And it is JMHO after all.

[Bretman]

Picture a three-dimensional projection of third base straight up, to an infinite height, exactly the same square shape as the base.

A batted ball that first touches nothing but the ground before passing third base, then nicks any portion of that vertical projection as it passes the base, is a fair ball- no matter where it lands after that. That's any portion of the ball, no matter how small, touching any portion of that projection, no matter how small.

Was this a foul ball? Beats me. No possible way of telling without seeing it. But just going from your description, I couldn't rule out the possibility that it could be fair.

[Tim_si2010]

I have to say.. but hate to admit it. I was doing a Showcase tourn. Sernior boys this Summer. I was behind the plate. The guy hit the ball so hard and my eye's didn't pick it up until it was all ready bye the base. Within seconds I had to decide fair or foul. the field Ump was in A pos. I called it fair i tried to figure out the angle. I was told later it was faul bye 10 inches from both coaches.. The coach ask me for an apeal and i denied him, he in turn said you never saw it did you .lol I just said play ball. Thank god no one scored that inning.