(FED) THE Dumbest ...

[UmpTTS43]

... thing I have ever read in ANY baseball publication concerning rules. 2010 FED rulebook. pg. 37

"Turning the shoulders to check runners while in contact with the pitcher's plate in the set position is legal. Turning the shoulders after bringing the hands together during or after the stretch is a balk."

And to think that the people that come up with this stuff are actually trying to make the game "easier" for the umpires.

I really hate this time of year when I have to read the FED book, just to get the cobwebs out.

[mstaylor]

Fed is a world all it's own. Part of the reason is they change some things because they are student/atheletes, part because they like to write rules to lowest common denominator and part they just like to put their mark on things. Still will cause you to bang your head on the wall.

[strike3scott]

Read the new one about INTERFERENCE. Runner on third - pop fly to 3B and runner interferes. The runner is out but if the catch is made it is wiped off and the batter comes back to bat!

Tell me that one won't cause problems - especially when coaches have their best hitter up and he pops one up.......have your runner interfere and the hitter gets a do over.

[UmpTTS43]

Read the new one about INTERFERENCE. Runner on third - pop fly to 3B and runner interferes. The runner is out but if the catch is made it is wiped off and the batter comes back to bat!

Tell me that one won't cause problems - especially when coaches have their best hitter up and he pops one up.......have your runner interfere and the hitter gets a do over.

Only if the ball was foul. If the ball was in fair territory when the INT occurs, interfering runner is out and batter awarded first.

[BrianC14]

Read the new one about INTERFERENCE. Runner on third - pop fly to 3B and runner interferes. The runner is out but if the catch is made it is wiped off and the batter comes back to bat!

Tell me that one won't cause problems - especially when coaches have their best hitter up and he pops one up.......have your runner interfere and the hitter gets a do over.

From NFHS/Referee Baseball Preseason Guide 2010

The change reads that the batter is out if "any member of the offensive team or coach other than the runner interferes with a a fielder who is attempting to field a foul fly ball."

The addition of the phrase "other than the runner" clarifies the responsibility of the runner and that the runner - not the the batter - will be declared out for the runner's interference. Previously, on a foul fly ball, the batter was declared out when the runner interfered.

Two case plays given:

Play 1: With R3 on third and one out, B6 hits a fly ball in foul territorynear third base. R3, who was leading off in foul territory, colllides with the fielder trying to make a play. Ruling 1: R3 is guilty of interference. The ball is dead, R3 is declared out and B6 remains at bat. It does not matter if F5 catches the ball; the interference penalty is enforced.

Play 2: With R3 on third and no outs, B7 hits a fly ball in foul territory near third base. The third-base coach interferes with F5, who is attempting to make a play. Ruling 2: The batter is out. That portion of the rule was not changed.

So what's the problem here?

Edited February 23, 2010 by BrianC14

[yawetag]

Read the new one about INTERFERENCE. Runner on third - pop fly to 3B and runner interferes. The runner is out but if the catch is made it is wiped off and the batter comes back to bat!

Tell me that one won't cause problems - especially when coaches have their best hitter up and he pops one up.......have your runner interfere and the hitter gets a do over.

If it's that obvious, I've got some malicious contact.

[mstaylor]

What you have to remember on interference the ball is dead as the moment ot interference. How many times have you seen the SS get hit and the umpire waits to see if he makes the play at first. When the fielder gets hit, the ball is dead so any play after that doesn't happen.

[Chance]

Someone help out a newbie...after reading the preseason guide on this new rule change then reading through the fed rules book i have a question: Rule 5-1, Dead ball and delayed dead ball table on pg. 34. #8 states: Interference with fielder attempting to catch foul fly ball. The penalty for such activity reads: Batter is out and another runner is out if interference prevented a possible double play. Am i wrong or is this conflicting rulings?

[Umpire in Chief]

No, it is correct many umpires refer to rules along these lines as the "death penalty."

The ball is dead, but if you as the umpire judge there was a shot at a double play, you can enforce 2 outs.

An example would be R2, R3 w/ less than 2 outs. Batter hits a foul pop-up which will be fielded by F5. R2 has a huge lead off, R3 in retreating back to the base interferes with F5's fielding of the ball. You call the interference and if you judge there was a potiential play on R2 you can get that out too. But be ready for some discussions.

[Chance]

No, it is correct many umpires refer to rules along these lines as the "death penalty."

The ball is dead, but if you as the umpire judge there was a shot at a double play, you can enforce 2 outs.

An example would be R2, R3 w/ less than 2 outs. Batter hits a foul pop-up which will be fielded by F5. R2 has a huge lead off, R3 in retreating back to the base interferes with F5's fielding of the ball. You call the interference and if you judge there was a potiential play on R2 you can get that out too. But be ready for some discussions.

Duly noted on the "death penalty".. However my confusion is coming from the new rule stating that the runner is out for interference and the batter continues his at bat vs the ruling of the runner being out.

[BrianC14]

Duly noted on the "death penalty".. However my confusion is coming from the new rule stating that the runner is out for interference and the batter continues his at bat vs the ruling of the runner being out.

It's not a "new" rule, but it is a revised rule you're talking about -- 7-4-1f. See my eariler posting of it in this thread.

Edited February 25, 2010 by BrianC14

[Chance]

It's not a "new" rule, but it is a revised rule you're talking about -- 7-4-1f. See my eariler posting of it in this thread.

So just to clarify, the preseason guide of the revised ruling of the runner being out overrides the ruling in the fed rule book of the batter being out?

[Umpire in Chief]

Chance,

I re-read your first post in this thread. Now I get your question. You will have to forgive me that I only have my 2007 FED book here at work, but here I go.

You are correct in noticing the difference and it is an important one when deciding who to call out. But it is applying different rules in a similar situation. Not another one of FED's beautiful rules.

If it is the runner who is interfering as in the update, the runner is out and the batter remains.

If it is a coach, retired runner, or other team affiliate the batter is out and the runner returns.

The deciding factor is whose interference is it and punish he who made the mistake.

Does this better answer your question?

[Chance]

yes, now i get it. Thanks:nod: