They can but it would just be dumb.
Actually, the first baseman cannot stand in foul territory. The only defensive player allowed to lineup not in fair territory is the catcher, who must take his position behind home plate in the "catcher's box", which is technically in four territory.
I'm going to answer the question, "Can a bAlk be called if either the first or the third baseman are in foul territory?" as well as "Can a balk be called if the runner on first or on third base are in foul territory?"
A balk is called whenever the pitcher makes an illegal throw or pitch. Basically, if a pitcher moves his front foot toward a base (including home plate), it must be that base that the pitcher throws the ball towards. The location of the either the runner or the fielder is completely irrelevant to whether or not the pitcher committed a balk.
From the best of my knowledge the player can not be positioned in foul territory but is allowed to enter foul territory to retrieve or catch a foul ball.
Yes! I See It All The Time!
If the ball is in fair territory, the fact that the fielder is standing in foul territory does NOT make the ball foul. the same as if a ball is foul, the fielder standing in fair territory doesn't make the ball fair.
The location of the baseball decides if the ball is fair or foul. If the ball is in foul territory, the ball is foul regardless of the position of the player touching the ball. The same applies for balls in fair territory. This is opposite the ruling in football.
No. The umpire calls the ball fair or foul based on where the ball is when the fielder touches it. If the ball is in foul territory when it is touched, the ball is called foul.
Once the ball is past first or third base, the ONLY consideration is where the BALL is located -- fair or foul -- when it FIRST comes in contact with either the ground or a player. If the player is almost entirely in fair territory when he first grabs the ball, but the glove that touches the ball is in foul territory, then it's a foul ball. "If the ball touches a fielder in-flight, the judgment is made at where the ball was when it was touched, NOT from where it may land after a miss, or drop of the ball, by a fielder. The position of the fielder is irrelevant."
No. The Home Plate Umpire, the Catcher, and the Batters are in foul territory, because they are all positioned behind the foul lines.
Yes, the entire line is in fair territory.
If the fielder falls into the stands or the dugout after catching the foul, the ball is dead and runners are awarded base from the base they occupied at the time of the pitch.
In both baseball and softball all lines are considered to be fair territory. If a batted ball hits the line on the fly, but then rolls into foul territory, it is still considered a fair ball. This rule only applies to a ball hit past either the first or third base bag. A ball that hits the line, or inside the line, before reaching the first or third base bag is a foul ball.
foul ball
No matter where the feilder is standing... foul or fair territory... the second they come into contact with the ball, its considered fair and in play. Even if it was going foul and you try to catch it and miss it, if there is any contact, the ball becomes fair.
Yes, it depends where the ball is first touched by the fielder.
The rule requires that a fielder on defense will have to remain in fair territory at all times except for fielding batted baseballs, this will include instances of Infielders holding on baserunners. The only positional player that can be in foul ground at all times is the Catcher.