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Commentary for Game 12
Lack of “ground rules” in left field at Daly
July 14, 2007
By Andrew Wolan / MLSB.com
After the game, A-WOL had a few bones to pick regarding the inconsistancy of the "ground rules" at Daly Field.
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So what’s my point? Let’s remove this inconstancy in the rules and keep things simple.
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Wolan keeps it simple and gets
to the point.
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In professional baseball, if a batter hits a ball such that is hits the ground in fair territory and then bounces out of play, a ground rule double is declared. For example: a batter hits the ball in a gap in center field, where it then hits ground and then bounces over the fence. This would be called a “ground rule double” and would advance the batter to second base.
This rule was created because there would be no way for the fielder to retrieve the ball quickly enough to make a play. After all, it’s not entirely the fielder’s fault for the ball exiting the field of play. And since the batter clearly did not hit the ball hard enough to justify a homerun, the batter should not get a free pass for an inside the park homerun. That would be cheap.
Unlike the ball parks in the major leagues, the fields that the BWCS league uses are not boarded by a wall to clearly denote the field of play. In addition, the fielders are not professionally groomed and leveled, so there will be various nuances on the edges of the field, such bushes, odd slopes and ditches, and in the case of Connell #2, a swamp. With that in mind, ground rule triples have been created for instances where a hit ball gets by a fielder and becomes “unfieldable” for whatever reason.
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Location of the nuances at Daly Field. (Mapquest)
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For those unfamiliar with Daly field, the field has its own set of nuances. Along the right field fence is a sloop that leads down the field to the fence. A ball that is hit towards it can easily roll into the fence and get stuck. When this happens, a ground rule triple is declared. In deep left field, there is a red brick structure with an entry way that partially faces home plate. If the ball gets hit into the entry way, the fielder will have a difficult time retrieving the ball. In addition, there are trees near that building, so if a ball gets past the fielder and the fielder is able to retrieve the ball for a play, he or she will have to contend with the foliage just to get the ball in.
You would assume that with such obstacles the league would institute a ground rule triple for any ball hit into this area. Unfortunately, there is none. In the first inning of Game 12, a ball was hit such that it bounced inside the structure in left field. The ump did not call it a ground rule triple, even though the ball was clearly unfieldable at that point. In addition, a few balls were hit into the trees during the course of the game, leading to a pair of ITP HRs, and in the case of Kevin, a long triple.
So what’s my point? Let’s remove this inconstancy in the rules and keep things simple. If the ball gets hit into the structure or rolls into the trees, the fielder is given the option to put their hands in the air to declare the ball “unplayable”. It works well for the fields at Connell and it will work fine here.
Ciao,
Andy
Andy Wolan is a reporter and photographer for BWCS. This story was not subject to the approval of the league or its clubs.
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