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A). Are all "defensive interference" plays called "obstruction"..?? Whereas most offensive interference plays are called "interference"...?? (I suppose except "catcher's interference" or "umpire's interference") B). Are all obstruction penalties by the defense a delayed call by the umpire? Or are any obstruction calls an immediate dead ball..?? C). Scenario: runner on 1st, base hit into the outfield: the baserunner as he's rounding second is obstructed by the shortstop covering the second base bag with no incoming throw. This is a delayed call/runner is awarded third base. It's delayed because the baserunner may choose to round third base, and if so, the delayed call is erased, and he is then a live runner..... is all this correct..??

FWIW: worked a couple games this past weekend with a colleague (with JuCo experience) who bought the Enduro after seeing mine (moved to the Enduro from the Wilson Platinum). He took a hard foul directly off the CP and was impressed with how little he felt.

Our team needs an umpire for Need Umpire – Cooperstown Dreams Park Week 11 (July 30–Aug 5). Let me know if anyone is available. Thank you!

Assignors/ coordinators are getting kickbacks from Smitty? Just my $.02 but I feel like Smitty jumped into this at a good time when Honig’s was falling apart and Ump Attire was getting a lot of traction. Honigs and +POS made their own stuff (private label pants, shirts, gear, etc) so when they struggled, Smitty was there at a much lower cost. I’ve always disliked Smitty stuff and think it is cheap and poorly made. Them copying the prior New Balance plate shoe made me laugh. They also did a good job catering to guys who don’t want to spend $30+ on a shirt, etc. There is a lot of those guys out there. As someone with a professional career who has a closet full of professional clothing, $100 for a pair of well made umpire pants is fine with me.

https://mktg.mlbstatic.com/mlb/official-information/2025-official-baseball-rules.pdf The answer is in Rule 5.11 1. No, the player cannot come back in to pitch (see first bolded part below) 2. I think the rule I quote below assumes a situation in which the player goes from the mound directly to defense so I am not sure if he can come an play defense later in the game. Since 5.11(a) allows, in general, for a switch from DH to defense [see 5.11 (a)(12)], I think he can (but this will terminate the team's use of a DH for the rest of the game). See the second bolded part below, which is also what 5.11 (a)(12) says. 5.11 (b) Starting Pitcher as Designated Hitter. It is not mandatory that a Club designate a hitter for the pitcher. However, in the event the starting pitcher will bat for himself, the player will be considered two separate people for purposes of Rule 5.11(a). In such cases, the manager should list 10 players on his team’s lineup card, and this player should be named twice – once as the starting pitcher and once as the Designated Hitter. Thus, if the starting pitcher is replaced, he can continue as the Designated Hitter (but can no longer pitch in the game), and if the Designated Hitter is replaced, he can continue as the pitcher (but can no longer hit for himself). If the player is simultaneously replaced both as a starting pitcher and Designated Hitter, he cannot be replaced by another two-way player filling both roles as separate people (this can be done only once on the initial lineup card by identifying that the starting pitcher will bat for himself). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Rule 5.11(a) above, if that pitcher bats or runs as Designated Hitter, such move will not terminate the Designated Hitter role for that Club; neither will the role be terminated in the event that Designated Hitter assumes the role of pitcher on defense. However, if that player is switched from the mound or Designated Hitter role to a position on defense other than pitcher, such move will terminate the Designated Hitter role for that Club for the remainder of the game.

HP Umpire Nick Mahrley ejected Padres infield coach Ryan Goins and manager Craig Stammen (check swing strike two call by 1B Umpire Ben May on Fernando Tatis) in the top of the 1st inning of the #Padres-#Dodgers game. With none out and none on, Padres batter Tatis attempted to check his swing on a 0-1 fastball from Dodgers pitcher Emmet Sheehan, ruled a ball by HP Umpire Mahrley and a swinging strike by 1B Umpire May. At the time of the ejections the game was tied, 0-0. The Padres ultimately won the contest, 5-2. These are Nick Mahrley (48)'s 1st and 2nd ejections of 2026. These are the 62nd and 63rd ejection reports of the 2026 MLB regular season.This is the 34th manager ejection of 2026.This is the 10th coach ejection of 2026. Ejection Tally: 34 Managers, 10 Coaches, 19 Players.This is San Diego's 4/5th ejection of 2026, 1st in the NL West (SD 5; SF 3; ARI, COL, LAD 0).This is Ryan Goins' 1st ejection since Sept 10, 2025 (Junior Valentine; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]). This is Craig Stammen's 3rd ejection of 2026, 1st since June 13 (Chris Conroy; QOC = U [Throwing At]).This is Nick Mahrley's 1st ejection since July 29, 2025 (David Popkins; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]). Wrap: San Diego Padres vs Los Angeles Dodgers, 7/5/26 | Video as follows: Alternate Link: Goins, Stammen ejected just 3 pitches into the game over a check swing callView the full article

Good catch! MLB rule 6.01 (a) (3) states: Before two are out and a runner on third base, the batter hinders a fielder in making a play at home base; the runner is out. So, we have a judgment call. Was the pitcher making a play at home base? (in this case proximity being the issue) Yes= interference and an out. No= nothing. Acting as the devil's advocate to play out the conversation... So the Manager (in an even tone if they are well trained and prepared) says "So @BigBlue4u you're saying the pitcher was hindered running towards home. However, it wasn't judged Interference because he wasn't making a play at home?"

Good catch! MLB rule 6.01 (a) (3) states: Before two are out and a runner on third base, the batter hinders a fielder in making a play at home base; the runner is out. So, we have a judgment call. Was the pitcher making a play at home base? (in this case proximity being the issue) Yes= interference and an out. No= nothing.

According to MLB rules... Assume you start the game with the Ohtani rule (same player is DH/Starting Pitcher) which we'll call Player A. Later in the game, another player comes off the bench to pitch but Player A remains as the DH. Can that player, Player A the DH, then come back in to pitch or play a defensive position again later in the game? References to actual MLB rules would be helpful, thanks!

I follow the line of thought. What rulebook language are you using to explain the call to the defense?

Ms. Teschmacher, please ring up @johnnyg08. He's conspicuously silent. I'd like to hear his opinion.

I use "at home base" as the location where a batter would be guilty of BI. Others argue that any hindrance of "a play at home base" would be BI. Invoking 6.01(b) on this play with two outs, who do you grab as the out?

Ummmmm Max, hate to say this but the (mid) 80s were 40 years ago!!

Apologies. I am a USA softball guy mostly, so I was referring to the USA rules. 7.6 "The batter is out" 7.6.R "When hindering the catcher from catching or throwing the ball by stepping out of the batter’s box.". Effect - The ball is dead. The batter is out. Each runner must return to the last base touched at the time of the interference. I believe USSSA treats this the same way. I don't call high school because my work schedule doesn't allow me to take enough games to make the registration worth it, so I don't have access to those rules. I do see the NCAA exception in 11.20, so good call out there (pun intended).

Unfortunately, I am not showing any wide widths available in these.

1. There is no assuming a fielder can/cannot make a play. If a runner interferes with the protected fielder, the ball is dead at that point so there is no longer a play to be made. 2. The offense only gets the choice if all runners and the BR do not achieve their next base. If everyone advances 1 base, we ignore the interference, even if outs occur beyond the advanced base. 3. Delayed Dead Ball - Batter interference, Umpire interference on a throw, Catcher's Interference Immediate Dead Ball - Spectator interference, Umpire interference on a hit, Runner/BR interference, Retired Runner Interference, Coach's Interference, Authorized individual interference (bench player, ball boy),

Looks like I am in the minority here. But I've got nothing. First, who created the problem? Second, the batter made a legitimate effort to get out of the way of a play at the plate. Third, even if the batter was in the way of the pitcher, it is unlikely a play could have been made on the runner. Bottom line, I'm not going to pull one out of my you know what to bail out a miscue by the offense. For the scorekeepers in the midst, score the run on a wild pitch.

batter did not do this by design, nor was it premeditated or intentional. by trying to do the right thing and get out of the way, he actually gets in the way and commits interference.

1) Assuming the fielder cannot make a play, it is an immediate dead ball and any runners are returned to base occupied at the time of the pitch. 2. No, it is a delayed dead ball. Offense can take the result of the play or advance batter and any runner attempting to advance on the pitch, one base. 3. No. Many interference calls result in a delayed dead ball.

A). Baserunner running his normal path to second base is called for interference by running into an infielder making a play on a batted ball. Is this a dead ball? Where are the other runners/batter placed? B). The batter makes contact with the catcher's mitt as he swings, but still manages a hit down the line that will certainly score the runner from second, and potentially be a double for himself. The plate umpire recognizes the catcher's interference. But.... is this an immediate dead ball?? C) Are most all offensive interference plays called immediately as a dead ball...?? Or delayed penalty...??

Be nice if they could be available in wider widths?

Except the bedlam part.

This is clearly a volunteer umpire, and none of the above is going to happen. C'est la vie!