Richvee

You're far from "late" . I started at the ripe old age of 50. Sometimes I wish I started sooner, but I'm grateful I got to watch and coach my kids without having to split time between officiating and watching or coaching.

...And what happens when someone devises a thumb guard that is permanently attached to the batting glove?

Maybe LL is thinking along the lines of this guy..Saying kids under 13 really have no use for this. (not a valid reason to outlaw them IMO. Just throwing it out there as a possible reason. https://youtu.be/JezkhA4bHPg?si=PbaRaZIAsW_D39yV

Welcome! Lots of great info here. You can learn a lot.

I like the idea of treating it as a thrown ball, Although the rule tells us it's still a pitch. 2-28-4 A pitch ends when: the pitched ball is secured by the catcher comes to rest goes out of play becomes dead or the batter hits the ball (other than a foul tip) Funny how using this as an explanation, in a strange but logical way validates FED's D3K rule that interference must be intentional.

Good point

What do we do with the glove or gear after the game? Just give it back? Also wondering what a “secure area” would be on some fields.

I would also think if they didn’t want the double strike left live, it would (should) read something like “One strike is called on the pitch, and a second strike added for stepping out of the box, the ball is dead” or in the dead ball table. The ball is dead when…a penalty strike is called after a pitch.

The way I read it all, the order would be reversed from the way you’re seeing it. One strike on the batter, he steps out first (penalty strike 2) THEN the pitch is delivered. (Strike 3 ball is live). And yes…. Situation H would be a lot more helpful if they made the count 2-1.

So teach your runner to veer towards 3B and not run straight into the OF. That's what I've seen more often than not on these plays anyway.

I'll buy that. That IS a rule that applies to the situation. (even though there's other situations where fielding a pitched ball is differentiated from fielding a thrown ball) As long as I have something better than "There's no rule so it's legal" to explain a call. Again, there IS a rule. It states specifically what is umpire interference.

We have rules for almost every kind of interaction with the batter, or batter runner and catcher around the plate...On D3K's, on a pitch when the the batter remains a batter and the catcher needs to gather a misplayed ball, on a batted ball when he becomes a batter runner. Ball four should fall into one of these categories, and I don't think it should be arbitrary as to which one. All I'm saying is "there's no rule so it's nothing" doesn't convince me on this play.

casebook 6.2.4 sit H & I says otherwise

I think we’re the only ones on this side of the aisle. The majority says we’re wrong, and the interference needs to be intentional. OK. That’s fine, but I’m really not happy with the explanation of “there’s no rule that says this is interference on ball four”

Rule specifically states ball is live. Hypothetically, Batter can step out, pitcher can deliver a ball over the backstop, and BR would be awarded 1B.

Brian Debrauer gives a lot of info in his double first base presentation. Off line throws, heightened awareness by plate umpire, etc. It's probably the most informative piece in the whole clinic.

While the rule doesn't mention plays where the runner would be avoiding a collision, the clinic did dive deeper into the rule and gave this interpretation.

Patrick is doing a fantastic job. Working with Referee Magazine now as well. I'm hoping he can turn Umpire Classroom into Nationwide FED video updates and interpretations along the lines of NCAA platform.

You are aware this play has an R2 advancing on the catcher’s misplay of the pitch, right?

Hard to tell if the slide was late and there was contact prior to a leg and buttocks on the ground. That would make it an illegal slide. Also hard to tell if F4 was off to the side of the bag and contacted ( violation) or on top of the bag. (Legal contact. ) Sliding through the bag is only a violation if the contact is beyond the bag.

OK. So the consensus is this is nothing. I’ve been convinced

That would be a cheap bet. House is paid in full. But your point is well taken. Especially at some of the places you and I will be this spring.

Someone let me know if I'm wrong , but I believe same as NCAA. (It's amazing I do virtually no games under OBR now. All FED for high school and tourneys and NCAA.)

And what's your rule backup for that? If we're using has to be intentional, we can point to D3K for a FED game. What do we point to as the reason for it needs to be intentional for NCAA? I can't buy "Intentionally interferes with a throw".

In FED the D3K interface needs to be intentional. NCAA, any hindrance by the BR kills it and the BR is out.