Expert: Martin Hoover - 2/13/2005

Question
Even it is under ASA ruling?


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Followup To
Question -
Bases loaded, no outs, batter hits a pop up that either the F6 or F5 can catch with ordinary effort, the umpire rules infield fly, the ball is caught by F5. The third base coach informs the umpire that F5 is using an illegal glove/mitt. Is it D?
The umpire rules:
A) The manager has option of taking the results of the play, or the batter is awarded first and all runners
forced receive one base.
B) The glove is removed and the batter bats again with the bases loaded.
C) The ball is dead, the batter is out and all runners are awarded one base.
D) The play stands as the infield fly takes precedence over the illegal glove/mitt.
Answer -
Gary,

None of the above.

The play would stand, and the batter would be out. Do you remember the George Brett Pine Tar incident? His bat had too much pine tar(which made it an illegal bat) and he hit a home run. After discussion, the umpires ruled him out for using an illegal bat. That ruling is false, the home run should stand, and the bat removed from the game. Illegal equipment shall be removed. There is no penalty for using such after the fact. In your case, the out stands, and, if the fielder has an illegal glove, the glove shall be removed ASAP. The answer is E

e) The infield fly stands, and the glove shall be removed from the game immediately.

I hope this has helped.

-Martin Hoover


Answer
Gary;

I'm going to answer this one like my mentor told it to me. So if it sounds like I'm being a jerk. It's not me, but my mentor.

What makes a mitt a mitt and a glove a glove?

If you ever get a chance to read that area of the rule book (Rule 3 – Section 4) it gives you the dimensions of a glove, but yet never gives you the dimensions of a mitt. If there is an umpire or coach that can give me a decent definition that can separate the two, then they need to notify ASA. As long as the glove meets the specifications set forth by that rule(which I believe most “mitts” even meet) then it's okay. And even if it doesn't, remove the glove or mitt or whatever the hell you want to call it, and continue to play.

I hope this has helped, and if you can find the difference, let ASA know.

- Martin Hoover