And why it's very rare to see a runner on third get hit by a batted ball in FAIR territory. Perhaps too rare, because when it occurred in a game I attended last season, both the home and third base umps blew the call.danielh41 wrote: That's why, in the majors, every baserunner on third base stands in foul territory.
The Mets had first and third with no one out and a certain Merry Man at the plate. Moyer jammed him inside so badly that his bat shattered, while the ball bounced towards third, plunking Carlos Beltran in the butt.
I happened to be sitting right above 3rd base, so I noticed immediately that Beltran was in fair territory, and expected the out call. But both umps, maybe out of sheer habit, called the ball foul (grrrr). So instead of men on 1st & 2nd with one out, our Merry Man got another chance to bat... and promptly hit a three-run homer on the next pitch.
Replays confirmed Beltran was indeed in fair territory when the ball hit him. They also showed why: the barrel of the shattered bat also went flying towards third, but on the foul side of the line. Beltran had been in foul territory, as he should have been, but instinctively sidestepped the bat coming at him.... right into the path of the grounder.
Fortunately, the Phillies still came back to win the game in extra innings, taking the umps off the hook.
