Batter Interference

[Mike Prince]

R3, less than 2 outs. Left-handed batter. Pitch deflects off of catcher and to the left of home plate (more left than behind). R3 comes home, pitcher comes in and catcher tosses ball...right into the back of the batter who is standing in the exact same position he was when the pitch came in - frozen like a statue. Pitcher was not yet to the plate to receive the throw.

The runner clearly beat the throw.

Whatcha got?

[1dumbquestion]

R3, less than 2 outs. Left-handed batter. Pitch deflects off of catcher and to the left of home plate (more left than behind). R3 comes home, pitcher comes in and catcher tosses ball...right into the back of the batter who is standing in the exact same position he was when the pitch came in - frozen like a statue. Pitcher was not yet to the plate to receive the throw.

The runner clearly beat the throw.

Whatcha got?

good baseball. nice job batter

[Rich Ives]

R3, less than 2 outs. Left-handed batter. Pitch deflects off of catcher and to the left of home plate (more left than behind). R3 comes home, pitcher comes in and catcher tosses ball...right into the back of the batter who is standing in the exact same position he was when the pitch came in - frozen like a statue. Pitcher was not yet to the plate to receive the throw.

The runner clearly beat the throw.

Whatcha got?

So the pitcher wasn't there yet and the runner beat it anyway. Just what did the batter interfere with?

[mstaylor]

I will ask an obviously stupid question. How did the catcher hit a left handed batter in the back, when the ball was to the left of the plate? :)

[Mike Prince]

From the pitcher's perspective it was to the left so it was behind the batter. Some things never come out right when posting....

[Mike Prince]

If I may allow me to add a wrinkle to this. So the ball is still behind the batter but let's change the Sitch so that there is a potential play on R3 - does that change any perspective on this?

The batter never found the ball and just stands frozen in the batter's box (which is understandable given that it's 9U ball, I don't think he even turned his head). Not sure if any movement on his part would have gotten him out of the way - coaches are always telling their batters to "back out" on a passed ball with R3.

[Welpe]

If I may allow me to add a wrinkle to this. So the ball is still behind the batter but let's change the Sitch so that there is a potential play on R3 - does that change any perspective on this?

Yes, it certainly can. If the batter has time, he to get out of the way.

[mstaylor]

Lack of knowledge doesn't absolve him from BI. In the OP there is no play so no interference.

[Mike Prince]

Thanks guys, this is what I was looking for, this confirms my perspective as well. Always a good thing.

[nwsquid]

On a throw to a base other than home the BR can freeze (and be protected) and be fine. On a throw to home he has to get out of the way (he is not protected). Paraphrasing Carl Childress

Two out, batter is out. Less than two outs, runner is out.

[mstaylor]

I called a batter's interference tonight. The batter backs out right into the catcher's throwing path. It causes the throw to sail into left field. Everybody starts to run, I come up big calling time. I banged the batter and ended the inning. The manager came down and asked if he was all the way out of the box? I told him yes he was but it didn't matter. When they came back up he double checked that I had the batter out and not the runner, wanting to stay out of a BOO problem. When his catcher came out after the BI, I asked him if he understood what I called. He said absolutely and that it was a good call.