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Zone A
With no one on base, any pop-up in foul territory on the 3rd base
side of the infield belongs to the plate umpire. If there is a chance
the ball will become fair, the base umpire should take his/her 90°-angle
position; if not, the base umpire would remain at his/her position. If
such a foul pop-up on the 3rd base side is close to the foul line, the
plate umpire should straddle the line to make the call, indicating (by
pointing) fair or foul the moment the ball is touched. The base umpire
will of course be taking his/her 90°-angle position if the pop-up is
near the 3rd base foul line.
If the foul pop-up on the 3rd base side of the field has no chance of
becoming fair, the plate umpire will take the ball and get as close as
he/she can to the play. He/she should not come off the line until he/she
is convinced that the ball will be well onto foul territory and will
have no chance of coming back near the line. Unless the base umpire is
absolutely sure there is no chance the ball could be fair, he/she should
always come into his/her 90° angle position to be ready in case the ball
should drop and a play made on the batter-runner.
For plays in Zone A, nearing zone B and only the catcher is attempting
to catch the ball, then only the plate umpire will go with the ball. In
this case the base umpire will remain at his/her position provided there
is no chance of the ball becoming fair (and if there is a chance of the
ball becoming fair, take his/her 90° angle position).
Zone B
With no one on base, if the batter hits a pop-up between
1st and home which is obviously going to be foul and has no chance of
becoming fair (for example, a pop-up in front of the 1st base dugout or
in front of the 1st base stands), if the catcher and 1st baseman both
attempt to catch the ball, the plate and base umpires will both move
into position to judge the catch. If the catch is made facing the base
umpire, then it is his/her call (no matter who catches the ball). If the
catch is made facing the plate umpire, it becomes his/her call (again,
no matter who catches the ball). If the fielder is facing neither
umpire, the catch/no catch belongs to the umpire who is closer. However,
if there is any chance whatsoever of such a pop-up becoming fair, the
base umpire should assume his/her 90° angle in case the ball should be
dropped and a play is possible, and the plate umpire should take
responsibility of fair/foul and catch/no catch.
Zone C
On a foul pop-up where only the 1st baseman goes for the ball (for
example, past the 1st base dugout or near the 1st base stands), then
only the base umpire should go with the ball.
Zone D
If the pop-up is hit in front of or immediately behind the base umpire
(or in the general vicinity of the base umpire) and has a possibility of
becoming a fair/foul decision, the base umpire will come in to his/her
90°-angle position. The plate umpire will take the ball by moving up the
1st base line (as far as necessary to make the call) and straddling the
foul line.
Zone E
If the pop-up is beyond the base umpire, he/she should communicate that
he/she is taking the ball ("Going out!" even though he/she may merely
turn around or only move out a step or two in order to judge the ball).
The plate umpire will come out and take responsibility of the
batter-runner at 1st base and beyond if necessary. If the foul pop-up
will be fielded by the 1st baseman in foul territory near the 1st base
stands (i.e., well onto foul territory past 1st base), the base umpire
should take the ball. On this play, the base umpire will let the 1st
baseman clear in front of him/her (pivoting out of the way if
necessary).
The base umpire should then break in front of the 1st baseman and
obtain a proper angle to judge the catch/no catch. The plate umpire
would remain at home on this play since only the 1st baseman is
attempting to make the catch (i.e., there is no need for the plate
umpire to follow the play since the call belongs solely to the base
umpire). |
