Expert: Brian Flaspohler - 2/6/2011

Question
In a recent little league game we had a bit of controversy.  One of the kids swung and barely hit a ball; it only went about 2-3 feet in front of the plate.  When he dropped his bat, the bat landed in fair territory, as the ball rolled toward the foul ball line it struck the bat and stayed fair.  The umpire ruled the bat as part of the field and allowed the kid to stay at first base, where he had advanced on the swing.  

Right or wrong call?

Answer
Scott,

It was a correct call, but probably for the wrong reason.  Rule 6.05 (h) from the major league rulebook:

6.05 A batter is out when—

(h) After hitting or bunting a fair ball, his bat hits the ball a second time in fair territory.
The ball is dead and no runners may advance. If the batter-runner drops his bat and
the ball rolls against the bat in fair territory and, in the umpire’s judgment, there was
no intention to interfere with the course of the ball, the ball is alive and in play. If
the batter is in a legal position in the batter’s box, see Rule 6.03, and, in the umpire’s
judgment, there was no intention to interfere with the course of the ball, a batted ball
that strikes the batter or his bat shall be ruled a foul ball;

If the umpire feels the batter didn't intend to interfere, then the ball is live.  It sounds like the batter probably didn't mean to interfere so I'd say the ump got it right.

Hope this helps!

Brian