mbrown2097

For purposes of the original post, let's presume that the batter had time to vacate. I think we all agree that if he didn't have time to vacate, then he didn't have to.

Mbrown2097, Could you please clarify for us, when the ball got by the catcher, how far did it go from the catcher's position and which direction? Thank you. Manny Hello Many, Sorry for the slow reply. The ball went directionally behind the right handed batter and to the backstop or nearly to the backstop. (Granted ours is not very deep). The ball did NOT remain in the immediate plate area. Catcher had to get up, turn around, and run for it. Does that answer the question?

http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/living/2013/10/02/tommy-lasorda-red-chair-orig-jtb.cnn&hpt=hp_c3&from_homepage=yes

http://wapc.mlb.com/play/?content_id=30934665&c_id=mlb

Great 12u game last night, ended in a 5-5 tie after 6. Pitchers were both throwing seeds and the catchers were golden. Fun game to work a plate. I had a play however that I need a little help on. Right handed batter smashes a fast ball right down the first base line. (a hopper) Base Ump was in B. It takes me a second to locate the ball and by the time, I pick it up, it's already past the base. I ruled it to be fair, but to be honest, I really didn't get a look at it as it happend so quick. Is there anything that I can do to be better on these (from a mechanics perspective)?

Yes, absolutely!!! Me - "On the base!"

Impossible to see definitively during live action. Particularly from the Umpires pov on this one.

Here is my answer to my colleague. (Keeping in mind that he will only consider what is actually written in the OBR rules. Some of the answer is a little strict because of that. Point being, if you are only going to look at what is written, then you should ONLY LOOK AT WHAT IS WRITTEN.) Take a Look at 7.09c It is interference by a batter or runner when – c- 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. d-Any member or members of the offensive team stand or gather around any base to which a runner is advancing, to confuse, hinder or add to the difficulty of the fielders. Such runner shall be declared out for the interference of his teammate. BTW 2.00 A Fielder is any defensive player. (so this applies to the catcher too) Several things to think about using the purist perspective. 6.06c “A Batter is out when.†– This rule is not defining interference. 2.00 and 7.09c do that. 6.06c is defining punishment for a batter that interferes by moving. 6.06c A BATTER is out when. – Doesn’t protect the runner from being called out due to the batter interfering. (7.09c) 6.06c Says he is out for stepping out or making any other movement that hinders. Doesn’t say that he is protected by freezing. Just says that if he does make a movement that hinders, then the batter specifically is out. 7.09c clearly says “hinders a fielder in making a play at home base.†It doesn’t say that he moves and hinders, rather it just says hinders. You can hinder by standing in the way. 7.09D in fact says that a batter who stands around a base to which a runner is advancing, to confuse or hinder or add to the difficulty is guilty of interference and the runner is out. Attempting to eliminate interpretation and just apply the rules that exist (purist), I still have an out based on the above. 7.09D is the most damning. We have a batter standing around a base (home base) making it more difficult for the catcher to make a play on a runner that is advancing. You’ve made me work on this one. Enjoying the challenge. Mike

For what it is worth, I'm in line with this. My colleague's retort though is "show me in the rules where it says that." Right now, I got nothing except I believe that is the intent of the rule. BTW, he is watching this thread. How would you advise him?

I don't have access so hopefully someone else can help. Is there anything on this in the MLBUM or a case play on this? I have some colleagues that are unconvinced. They believe that 606c covers this play. I'm not in that camp but won't be able to change their minds without a rule cite or MLB interp. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

For me "hinders the catcher’s play at home base" is not the same as hindering a catcher making a play at home base. Did I just lose everyone?

Batter had the chance to get out of Dodge for sure. I think the main question here is does 6.06 C apply to a passed ball or wild pitch. Personally, I don't think it applies but if you read it carefully, there is room for misinterpretation.

Is this a 6.06C situation? He interferes with the catcher’s fielding or throwing by stepping out of the batter’s box or making any other movement that hinders the catcher’s play at home base. EXCEPTION: Batter is not out if any runner attempting to advance is put out, or if runner trying to score is called out for batter’s interference. Or is simply interference by definition. Offensive interference is an act by the team at bat which interferes with, obstructs, impedes, hinders or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play. If the umpire declares the batter, batter-runner, or a runner out for interference, all other runners shall return to the last base that was in the judgment of the umpire, legally touched at the time of the interference, unless otherwise provided by these rules.

Runner on 3rd. Passed ball is retrieved by catcher and as he makes his way back to the plate to attempt to tag the advancing runner from 3rd, he runs into the right handed batter who hasn't moved from his batting position in the batter's box. Assuming that he had a play on the runner, do you have interference.

/sarcasm He was out of position to make that second call... sarcasm

Sounds like a lot of you have been on the coaching circuit and the umpiring circuit...

It's just a matter of waving your arms and yelling go, right?

Thanks guys. I have coached my oldest for years and I just don't have the time to coach both boys. Oldest has moved on now to other coaches now. What I told him was that the coach was mostly correct; and probably close enough for most 10u rec ballers. I read my son the relevant rules and asked him some related questions. He's smart enough to know what is really right. I don't bad mouth the coach, he's a volunteer. But I have coached my son for years to do it the right way and this is just off of the mark. I won't say anything to the coach, but I will gently guide my son torwards doing it correctly. Perhaps I am wrong by doing this, but I can't believe that allowing him to learn it the wrong way is the right thing either.

FWIW here is where I am at. 1. A pitcher is "restricted" in his actions as soon as he takes the rubber. Not when he goes set. And no, he can't do what ever he wants at that point to try to get you out. (Fake, Hidden ball, .........) 2. " From the set position, he may deliver the ball to the batter, throw to a base or step backward off of the pitchers plate with his pivot foot. 3. Fundamentals, not nec rules. Take your lead when the pitcher steps on the rubber

Older son's Fall rec team. Coach claims to know what he is doing. Has coached for years in rec and tourney and has a talented son. Is working on lead-off and stealing last night and I just don't agree with what he is saying. 1. A pitcher that is on the rubber and is not set, "is a fielder and not a pitcher and he can do whatever he wants to try to get you out." 2. A pitcher that is in the set position can do 1 of 2 things. "Throw home or step off to try to get you out." -- as he demonstrates stepping off of the rubber backwards and then throws to first. 3. You should take a primary lead as the pitcher has the ball, regardless of whether he is on the rubber or not. After he comes set, you should take your main or secondary lead. Would love to hear a little conversation on this to see what I am missing. Looks to me like he misses several 8.xx sections.

Woulda been a heck of a "punch out" if he hadn't.

As a coach, I ocassionally ask that question because I can't tell from the dugout where it's missing. It's not a challange, rather a simple inquiry for data. The more information that I have, the better that I can instruct my pitcher. i.e. if he is consistently missing inside, we can have a talk about that. At the same time, I don't expect an umpire to have to answer on every pitch. I might ask 2-3 times on a tough night, and most of the time my inquiry is "Hey Bill, Inside?" I think you can tell from tone what the purpose is.

*** Sarcasm Alert*** "C'mon blue, it bounced!!!"

Good grief, what was on the line in that game, a new car for the winning head coach?

Local League president still believes half of the myths. I guess in order to have a session on them, he'd have to realize that they exist first. Same guy couldn't tell me what rule set the league was playing under..