Show TIlE THE PLAY Y The president of a minor r league wrote me about this play pIny request request- requestIng requesting ing my opinion of ot several situa sItua- sItuations situations tiona that might arise as a result of the Incident With the bases tilled filled and two strikes and t two tao 0 balls on theman the bats batsman man the tho pitcher delivered the ball which thich struck perhaps two feet teet In front ot of the home plate The moment the ball struck the ground the umpire yelled Ball three threet After striking the ground it took tooka a peculiar english and despite every effort ot of the batsman to got get out of ot the way the ball struck him himon himon himon on the tho leg The moment the ball bali hit the batsman bauman the manager of ot the team tam at bat claimed 1 the batsman was cn entitled titled to first base despite the tact the umpire had hod had ruled the pItch pitcha a ball making ball three II The umpire changed his deci- deci deciSion deci decision and permitted the batsman to togo togo togo go to first forcing a 0 run ot 0 over er en the plato That run pt oved enough to decide the game The team In the field protested Did the umpire make the proper rUling when he allowed the bats bats- batsman batsman batsman man to go to first base forcing a arun arun arun run over the plate Did this the fact that he had already made a 0 decision on the pitch ruling It a ball make void old the tho hitting ot of the batsman 1 It If such a pitched ball after It hit the ground round bound bound- bounded bounded bounded ed over the heart of ot the plate about waist high bight would that make It a astrike strike TilE INTI I The umpire made the proper rul- rul rulIng rul ruling ing leg In permitting the runner to go goto goto goto to first after atter being hit lilt by the hell ball though he ho had ruled It ball bali three the moment It struck the ground Ho lie erred In deciding the pay too quickly and had no war way out ot of It than to ret re reverse erse his first rul- rul rulIng rul ruling legA ing leg A ball bail that strikes thee the ground In front of ot the plate has no chance of oever ever being a strike though It should bound over the heart of ot the plate waist waitt t high no nn |