Might have kicked this one...

[mjr_2013]

Okay, differing view points on this one from people who I have asked. Let's get the right call on it.

LL Minors... R1, 1 out... I'm BU in B... Ball is hit towards 1st base, 3 or 4 feet in front of the base... F3 runs up and stops right in front of R1, in the baseline, without the ball. R1 tries to avoid but it's too late and they collide. Nothing malicious by either of them, and the fielder still gets the ball after the collision... Runner keeps going and is safe at 2nd. F3 takes ball to 1st for the 2nd out. I have no interference, no obstruction.

Defensive manager wants interference, and I told him no because his 1st baseman had no reason to stop right in his basepath.

A pitch is made and the coach is still complaining a bit, so my partner decides to have a 3 way conference with the DM in which he tells the DM that he should have been out. : :

Next person grounded out to the pitcher, so there was no harm, and the defensive team lost 15-2.

Postgame, I went to another umpire who was working a game on another field (one of the few in the league I like because he knows how to be an ump) and asked him, and he said he would have done the same thing I did.

SO... Did I kick it or was I right?

[ukce1861]

Unless I'm protecting another fielder to field the ball, I think I'm getting interference on this one. Just because he stopped, he's still in the act of fielding, as evidenced by the fact he actually fielded the ball and made a play.

I also don't think this is a possible train-wreck scenario - it's gotta be one or the other.

[JaxRolo]

UKCE is correct. Has to be INT

[UmpJM]

mjr,

As described, that's definitely interference.

A fielder attempting to field a batted ball (presuming the umpire judges he is the one with the most natural play on the ball) has absolute right of way to go where he wants to field the ball, and the runner has the obligation to avoid him. If the runner fails to avoid the fielder, he is guilty of of interference, regardless of his intent.

The runner is out, the ball is dead, the BR is awarded 1B, and any other runners return to their TOP base.

JM

[mjr_2013]

Got it! Thanks guys! I'll chalk it up to yet another thing learned here!

:)

[boyinr]

I vote for "you kicked it". Learn from it and move on.

[NFUA_44]

We have all kicked this one, or one similar to it. Biggest difference is your here talking about it where you'll get constructive feedback, and the likelyhood of you kicking it again goes way down.

That does NOT excuse your partner from doing a 3 way conference with anybody about a call. If anything he should have either called the INT himself, or gotten together with just you to cover the issue and let you make a change if necessary. For future reference, don't be THAT guy.

[JaxRolo]

One thing for sure. You will never kick that one again!

[mjr_2013]

The runner is out, the ball is dead, the BR is awarded 1B, and any other runners return to their TOP base.

This here has made me think... Say I had called the interference correctly. Would I award the BR first or not? The grounder to first definitely could have been a double play ball. It probably isn't likely to happen at the Minors level (someone would screw something up), but it was definitely possible.

When I call the interference on a play like this again, should I award the BR 1st, or should I award the defense a double play?

[dumbdumb]

Just remember the onus is on the runner to let the fielder field the ball.

[UmpJM]

The runner is out, the ball is dead, the BR is awarded 1B, and any other runners return to their TOP base.

This here has made me think... Say I had called the interference correctly. Would I award the BR first or not? The grounder to first definitely could have been a double play ball. It probably isn't likely to happen at the Minors level (someone would screw something up), but it was definitely possible.

When I call the interference on a play like this again, should I award the BR 1st, or should I award the defense a double play?

mjr,

Yes, you would still award the BR 1B.

Under OBR (-based) rules, you only get a double play on this type of interference when you judge that the runner INTENTIONALLY interfered in order to prevent the double play. If the interference is unintentional, even if a double play was probable absent the interference, you still only call the interfering runner out, and award the BR 1B.

JM

[Rich Ives]

The runner is out, the ball is dead, the BR is awarded 1B, and any other runners return to their TOP base.

This here has made me think... Say I had called the interference correctly. Would I award the BR first or not? The grounder to first definitely could have been a double play ball. It probably isn't likely to happen at the Minors level (someone would screw something up), but it was definitely possible.

When I call the interference on a play like this again, should I award the BR 1st, or should I award the defense a double play?

The other guys answered about the DP.

But do not think of this as an award of 1B. The batter became a runner at the instant the batted ball was fair. He's completed his AB. He wasn't out. Therefore he's on first base. You don't have to do or decide anyhing. (And in the scorebook he gets credit for a base hit - try that one on.)

[Fittske24]

so my partner decides to have a 3 way conference with the DM

Unless you guys are running a 3-man umpire crew, there should not be a 3-way conference....especialy one that includes a manager. Managers should be speaking to the umpire responsible for the call. Once the manager asks his question and you decide a crew consultation is needed, send the manager back to the dugout or box and get together with your partner(s) and render the final decesion.

[mjr_2013]

Thank you guys, you've helped a lot!!

[Jocko]

I really appreciate the candor on this site. Other forums tend to be more critical and ostracizing if someone asks this (or any) type of question. I haven't seen 1 response belittling the OPer for not knowing EVERYTHING. This is a breath of fresh air.