Let's get our heads screwed on straight, first. Go to pages 95 through 99 in 2008 BRD, Mr. Childress' work of art. In NFHS ball the fielder can make a catch with one foot in dead ball area and one foot out; in NCAA he can't be touching dead ball area if he wants the catch for an out. But, since 2005, he can be sliding and halfway into dead ball area and get the out. In OBR the fielder can go into dead ball area and catch the ball for an out. Sounds simple enough.

Me and Budd

Budd and I were working at Disneyland one summer. The O'Rays were using the park at Disney's Wide World of Sports. We knew the minor league umps, so the tickets were free. Lo and behold, there was a pop-up over by the dugout fence. The catcher got an out while standing with one foot on the warning track and one foot in the first base side dugout, one step down.

Continued...