Hec and/or other baseball fans, I have a question for you. I went to a WCL game today (which essentially seems to be a summer league for college players to build skills and get scouted) and there was a call I don't understand. The field was set up so that there was tall (maybe 18 foot?) wooden fence at the outer perimeter and then in left field, a waist-high nylon fence about three feet in from the wooden fence. In the fifth inning, there was one out with a runner on second when the batter hit a long, high ball to left field. The fielder jumped up and caught it but flipped back over the small fence and hit the ground between the two fences. He came up with the ball, though, and then just lobbed it into the shortstop who had come over to relay it back to the infield. In the meantime, the runner on second had advanced to third. After we all cheered for the incredible catch, there was a long conversation between the umpires and the managers which I thought was about whether the hit had been a home run or an out. Apparently, it was decided that it was an out because the batter went to the dugout. What didn't make sense was then the umpire, over the objection of the other manager, waved the runner on third into home, scoring a run. There was lots of discontent from the home crowd but no one that I was near could figure out that call. Any ideas?

There was lots of discontent from the home crowd but no one that I was near could figure out that call. Any ideas?

That's kind of a weird scenario. The general rule is that if you make the catch while going over the fence (or into the crowd on a foul ball) is that it's an out.

What didn't make sense was then the umpire, over the objection of the other manager, waved the runner on third into home, scoring a run.

The umpires are allowed a fair amount of discretion to make the call on weird plays and I think the argument here is that if the fielder had simply made a regular catch on the ball, the runner would have been able to tag up and score because it would've been a very long sacrifice fly. Umpires are allowed to award extra bases to mitigate weird circumstances and that seems to have been their judgment.

For example, if a guy hit a ball into the outfield and it bounced up and may or may not have been a ground rule double but a fan reached over the fence and grabbed the ball, the ump is allowed to predict the most likely outcome in that scenario and award the bases as he thinks it would have happened without the interference.

I presume they made a similar judgment call here.

It being a judgment call makes sense. I think we were all so stoked about the catch (including the fielder who stood there holding the glove above his head for twenty seconds or so to prove that he had it) that no one paid much attention to rest of the play. We came back and scored again in the next inning on a couple of solid doubles so won despite the run scored by fiat.

Thanks for the explanation; I'm rediscovering my love of minor (or in this case, very minor) league ball and am realizing how much I've forgotten

In a lot of ways the lower levels are way more fun to watch. It's more human scaled and relatable.

The last minor league game I saw was with amych in Durham.

It really is a great way to see the game - parking's free, ticket is $7, you sit 20 feet from the edge of the field, the play moves quickly, and for one inning, the announcer lets a two year old give the names of the batters. It is just wonderful way to spend a summer evening.

Woke up this morning to news about Hayden's "adventure". Here's hoping for a swift recovery, right?

Much healing ~ma to Hayden. That sounds scary.

Mycroft is so cute! He has big paws!

Also much kitty~ma to sara and Mr. Kitty.

Oh dear, Hayden! Heal up quickly!

Connie - you have a live action Pepe Le Pieu in your backyard! That is excellent.

Hayden, good grief. 'ma for quick recovery