Spectator Interference

[mstaylor]

This was on another board that I frequent and I thought it was interesting. I gave an answer but have nothing to back me up so I thought it ight engender some interesting discussion.

I was watching the Twins-Tigers game last night, and wondered about a ruling on the field.

Here's the situation:

Foul pop-up behind home plate in the crowd. Joe Mauer reaches into the stands, out of play to catch it. The ball glances off a spectator's hand and ends up in Mauer's glove. The umpire ruled an out.

When the ball hits a fan, is it still a ball that can be caught for an out? Couldn't find anything in the rulebook that addressed this exactly. Thoughts?

[Finnblue]

I believe you are talking about this:

http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=6914589

I tried to see if the spectator really touched that ball. Hard to say in any TV anlge. PU was there right on the spot, with a clear view. So we go with his call.

MS

[Mr Umpire]

I believe it did hit the spectator hand but would be hard to tell at full speed. Plus watching everything else to make sure nothing else happens but I think he missed it. Oh well.

Since there is nothing in the definition to suggest it is still a catch if it touches a spectator or not, I would treat it as if it touched a member of the offense and rule no catch.

But, there is a side note to this which I am curious about. The definition of a catch in OBR gives an example similar to this. Line drive touches F3's glove, then touches R1, then goes into F4's glove. That is not a catch. But, let's say it touches F3's glove, then R1, then goes into F3's glove. Would you rule a catch? I ask b/c I find it interesting that it says "and then is caught by another defensive player" which seems to imply if the same player catches it, it is a catch. At first thought, I wouldn't but reading that again, I am questioning it. Any opinions?

If you would rule a catch on this, I wonder if that is what applied here. It may have been judged to touch Mauer's glove first, then the spectator's, then Mauer caught it. Which would explain the catch call.

Edited September 30, 2009 by Mr Umpire

[blindumpire99]

I believe you are talking about this:

http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=6914589

I tried to see if the spectator really touched that ball. Hard to say in any TV anlge. PU was there right on the spot, with a clear view. So we go with his call.

MS

If you look at the last angle of the catch, the "fan" definately has his hand on top of Bauer's mitt and the fan's recoil is a result of the ball striking his hand, NOT him trying to get out of the way..

As far as the rule concerning it, Rule 2.00 on the defintion of a catch:

Rule 2.00 (Catch) Comment: A catch is legal if the ball is finally held by any fielder, even though

juggled, or held by another fielder before it touches the ground. Runners may leave their bases the instant

the first fielder touches the ball. A fielder may reach over a fence, railing, rope or other line of

demarcation to make a catch. He may jump on top of a railing, or canvas that may be in foul ground. No

interference should be allowed when a fielder reaches over a fence, railing, rope or into a stand to catch a

ball. He does so at his own risk.

So good call by Barksdale...My question is, what kind of advertising royalties is he receiving from Wilson for that big 'W' so prominent on that CP ?:banghead:

[UmpJM]

Gentlemen,

If the fan did in fact touch the ball before it was secured (it looked to me like he did) it CANNOT, by rule, become a legal catch - because it is no longer "In Flight".

JM

[BrianC14]

Are we watching the same video?

Each camera angle clearly shows the ball hitting the hand of that fan - - watch the video again, and focus in on the fan's hand - it hits him right on the palm, (watch how his fingers flex - first backward, then upward - and then the ball pops up - then it might even have hit the screen- and then Mauer catches it.

That's a foul ball.

[BrianC14]

If you look at the last angle of the catch, the "fan" definately has his hand on top of Bauer's mitt and the fan's recoil is a result of the ball striking his hand, NOT him trying to get out of the way..

As far as the rule concerning it, Rule 2.00 on the defintion of a catch:

Rule 2.00 (Catch) Comment: A catch is legal if the ball is finally held by any fielder, even though

juggled, or held by another fielder before it touches the ground. Runners may leave their bases the instant

the first fielder touches the ball. A fielder may reach over a fence, railing, rope or other line of

demarcation to make a catch. He may jump on top of a railing, or canvas that may be in foul ground. No

interference should be allowed when a fielder reaches over a fence, railing, rope or into a stand to catch a

ball. He does so at his own risk.

So good call by Barksdale...My question is, what kind of advertising royalties is he receiving from Wilson for that big 'W' so prominent on that CP ?

Well, wait - after all that rule citation, how is this a "good call" by Barksdale? The fan clearly touches it - which means 'Foul Ball'. Note that Barksdale isn't calling INT here - he's nodding his head and calling it a catch. Could it be that another fan blocked his view? The camera angles are all much higher than his head height, so it's possible that someone / something blocked him out at a critical moment. :angel4:

[noumpere]

Gentlemen,

If the fan did in fact touch the ball before it was secured (it looked to me like he did) it CANNOT, by rule, become a legal catch - because it is no longer "In Flight".

JM

I agree with this answer. And, other than debate about what did happen, I'm surprised there's any discussion on this rule. It seems pretty clear to me.

[blindumpire99]

No interference should be allowed when a fielder reaches over a fence, railing, rope or into a stand to catch a

ball.

I just based my response on this, straight out of the ORB .

[widac]

I just based my response on this, straight out of the ORB .

The "Int" part of this is a red herring. All it means is that it is not the same situation as if the fan reaches into live ball territory. It doesn't mean that the ball stays live after hitting something...a seat, a fan, a beer guy, etc.