Monday, June 4, 2012

Diamond Defined: Fair Ball To Fielder’s Choice








From the 2006 book, The Official Rules of Baseball Illustrated, by David Nemec, I will present Rule 2 of the Code - the definitions of baseball terms - over the course of the 2012 baseball season. Today’s terms are: Fair Ball, Fair Territory, Fielder, Fielder’s Choice.

Fair Ball – a batted ball that settles on fair ground between home and first base, or between home and third base, or that is on or over fair territory when bounding to the outfield past first or third base, or that touches first, second or third base, or that first falls on fair territory on or beyond first base or third base, or that, while on or over fair territory touches the person of a umpire or player, or that, while over fair territory, passes out of the playing field in flight.

Fair Territory – that part of the playing field within, and including the first base and third base baselines, from home base to the bottom of the playing field fence and perpendicularly upwards. All foul lines are in fair territory.

Fielder – any defensive player.

Fielder’s Choice – the act of a fielder who handles a fair grounder and, instead of throwing to first base to put out the batter-runner, throws to another base in an attempt to put out a preceding runner.

Images:
Left: Fair Territory from the website open-sites.org
Center: “Diamond Defined” logo created by Adrean Darce Brent
Right: Fielders from the website lineupforms.com
Below: "Red Sox Box" logo created by Adrean Darce Brent

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