Baseball question: why do baserunners run on a foul ball?

[Lifer]

with less than 2 outs I know they can tag and advance.
but with 2 outs and if the fielder drops the ball (in foul territory), won't they have to return to their base anyway?
or are they actually allowed to run even though it's a foul ball and the fielder attempts a catch?

 

[Lager]

It's still in play if they drop the ball in foul terriority for even a foul ball. Not groundball though.

 

[filmmaker]

It's also better to practice your running skills during a game rather than in practice when it really doesn't matter.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: filmmaker
It's also better to practice your running skills during a game rather than in practice when it really doesn't matter.

😕 Da hell...::testing sarcasm meter?::

 

[isasir]

Originally posted by: coldcut
It's still in play if they drop the ball in foul terriority for even a foul ball. Not groundball though.

Is this true? I'm a baseball fan, but that's news to me.

I always assumed they ran, cuz if they didn't, they'd be called lazy for not hustling.

 

[mtbiac]

yeah that is true. Like for example, pop fly to the catcher, its obviously foul, but if the catcher drops it then its fair and the runners can run. They start running so they can get a head start if this occurs...

🙂

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: RishiS

Originally posted by: coldcut
It's still in play if they drop the ball in foul terriority for even a foul ball. Not groundball though.

Is this true? I'm a baseball fan, but that's news to me.

I always assumed they ran, cuz if they didn't, they'd be called lazy for not hustling.

I'dunno if hes wrong or not, look at the official MLB rules:

5.09
The ball becomes dead and runners advance one base, or return to their bases, without liability to be put out, when_ (a) A pitched ball touches a batter, or his clothing, while in his legal batting position; runners, if forced, advance; (b) The plate umpire interferes with the catcher's throw; runners may not advance. NOTE: The interference shall be disregarded if the catcher's throw retires the runner. (c) A balk is committed; runners advance; (See Penalty 8.05). (d) A ball is illegally batted; runners return; (e) A foul ball is not caught; runners return. The umpire shall not put the ball in play until all runners have retouched their bases;

 

[kranky]

With two outs, they are going to be running as soon as the ball is hit. They start running before they know if the ball is fair or not.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: kranky
With two outs, they are going to be running as soon as the ball is hit. They start running before they know if the ball is fair or not.

Damn, forgot the question he was asking. Yea this guys right, don't matter if the ball is hit foul, you run it out because it could possibly curve back into play or something. It's all about the hustle.

 

[rh71]

The answer is because the wind can knock a pop-up back into fair territory - this has happened before...

In domed stadiums, if it hits the roof and lands fair, it's still good...

 

[FrogDog]

Originally posted by: mtbiac
yeah that is true. Like for example, pop fly to the catcher, its obviously foul, but if the catcher drops it then its fair and the runners can run. They start running so they can get a head start if this occurs...

🙂

No this is wrong. If the catcher catches the pop-up, and the baserunners are running, they will get thrown out because you have to tag up on a pop-up/fly ball. They run because they're running on contact, and they don't automatically know it's going foul. As soon as they realize it's foul, they run back to their base (quickly if it's a popup, slowly if it's just a grounder).

 

[FrogDog]

Originally posted by: rh71
The answer is because the wind can knock a pop-up back into fair territory - this has happened before...

In domed stadiums, if it hits the roof and lands fair, it's still good...

This is only with 2 out though, and even then, they don't run after they know it's clearly foul.

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

b/c fans hate LAZY players.

 

[Aceshigh]

Originally posted by: mtbiac
yeah that is true. Like for example, pop fly to the catcher, its obviously foul, but if the catcher drops it then its fair and the runners can run. They start running so they can get a head start if this occurs...

🙂

LOL. This is wrong. You guys need to study your baseball.

 

[Lifer]

Originally posted by: coldcut
It's still in play if they drop the ball in foul terriority for even a foul ball. Not groundball though.

can someone confirm this?

or disprove it?

 

[FrogDog]

Originally posted by: Lifer

Originally posted by: coldcut
It's still in play if they drop the ball in foul terriority for even a foul ball. Not groundball though.

can someone confirm this?

or disprove it?

It's wrong. When the ball is touched by a player, while the ball is in foul territory, it is then ruled a foul ball.

 

[Lifer]

Originally posted by: FrogDog

Originally posted by: Lifer

Originally posted by: coldcut
It's still in play if they drop the ball in foul terriority for even a foul ball. Not groundball though.

can someone confirm this?

or disprove it?

It's wrong. When the ball is touched by a player, while the ball is in foul territory, it is then ruled a foul ball.

what if one foot is in foul territory, one foot is in fair territory and he drops the ball?
(and assume its hard to tell whether the ball is going to be foul or fair)

or what if he's in fair territory and doing a lot of leaning (or diving) into foul territory (and vice versa)?

 

[FrogDog]

Originally posted by: Lifer

Originally posted by: FrogDog

Originally posted by: Lifer

Originally posted by: coldcut
It's still in play if they drop the ball in foul terriority for even a foul ball. Not groundball though.

can someone confirm this?

or disprove it?

It's wrong. When the ball is touched by a player, while the ball is in foul territory, it is then ruled a foul ball.

what if one foot is in foul territory, one foot is in fair territory and he drops the ball?
(and assume its hard to tell whether the ball is going to be foul or fair)

Judgement call for the ump.

 

[Rastus]

They run on foul balls with the third strike because they are all on the juice. And the bat is probably corked. And the ball has been doctored.