Ground rules - whose responsibility to establish?

[backstop09]

We played on a field yesterday where the dugouts were sunk into the ground. The concrete front edge of the dugouts stuck up about a foot above the foul territory infield surface. There were poles and a chain link fence immediately in front of the front edge of the dugout to protect the players in the dugout. There was an opening with no gate or fence where the players entered and exited the dugout. While our team was on defense, our first baseman missed a throw from another infielder. The ball rolled toward the dugout and bounced off of the portion of the dugout wall extending above the foul territory infield surface. The batter/runner was safe at first but the home team coach came out and told the umpire that the portion of the dugout wall where there was no fence or gate was dead ball territory and the runner should go to 2nd base. This was not mentioned at the pregame conference. Does the home team establish ground rules or is this done by the umpiring crew after arriving and inspecting the playing area?

 

[BretMan2]

By not covering this at the pre-game conference, the umpire set up a situation where you just might have some controversy. This is one of his responsibilities!

Now we have a conflict, a conflict that could have been avoided. Absent any pre-game instructions otherwise, at this point I think that you just need the umpire to determine if whatever the ball hit is behind or in front of the fence line. If it's behind, then it's out of play. Somebody's not going to be happy...but that's the price you pay for not doing your job and establishing ground rules BEFORE the game starts!

 

[Coach Rick Smith]

Home team sets the ground rules unless at a neutral site then the umpire sets the ground rules.