Batter's Interference

[mstaylor]

This has been discussed many times over the years on various boards but I thought I would bring up for discussion here. R2, outs don't matter. RH batter has ball four called and he starts to go to first. The F2 throws behind R2 to pick him off. The BR walks into the throw or hinders the catcher in his throw. Interference, weak interference or nothing?

[UmpTTS43]

Nothing unless the BR intentionally interferes with F2

[Jocko]

Ditto

[Rich Ives]

Nothing - or else we could just have the catcher plunk the runner to get an out.

[noumpere]

I agree with the others that this is nothing and it was specificaly covered in the ncaa meetings and I think it was on the test. The same ruling applies in all rules.

[JaxRolo]

Nothing from Nothing leaves Nothing

[Dragon29]

Nothing from Nothing leaves Nothing

Thank you, Billy Preston.

[soapbox]

Help settle a disagreement which I believe I may be wrong on. Here's the situation. R3 less than 2 outs. R3 takes secondary lead coming towards plate on pitch. F2 fires to 3B but is interfered with by B1. R3 never hesitates and keeps coming down line as ball sails due to Int. Do I have an out on R3 or B1. Pride is the bet. Thanks guys and gals.

ART. 5 . . . Interfere with the catcher's fielding or throwing by:

a. leaning over home plate,

b. stepping out of the batter's box,

c. making any other movement which hinders actions at home plate or the catcher's attempt to play on a runner, or

d. failing to make a reasonable effort to vacate a congested area when there is a throw to home plate and there is time for the batter to move away.

PENALTY: When there are two outs, the batter is out. When there are not two outs and the runner is advancing to home plate, if the runner is tagged out, the ball remains live and interfer­ence is ignored. Otherwise, the ball is dead and the runner is called out. When an attempt to put out a runner at any other base is unsuccessful, the ­batter is out and all runners must return to bases occupied at the time of the pitch. If the pitch is a third strike and in the umpire's judgment interference prevents a possible ­double play (additional outs), two may be ruled out (8-4-2g).

[Rich Ives]

Runner from third is out.

The "attempt . . . at any other base" doesn't apply the R3 headed home play.

And I have a real hard time seeing where you'd have interference on a bang-bang throw.

[Jocko]

You appropriately qouted the rule in question that leaves no room for error. What's the question?

[Jocko]

The real question should be "is this BI?" Answer: more than likely not

[th3]

but if the runner took a step back towards third and then came home on the overthrow?

[soapbox]

Rich, not so odd. Say it's a snap throw and B1 leans over the plate. Hypothetical. I had it one way, my partner the other. You've answered my question. Many thanks.

[MPLSMatt]

Not to hijack, but how about on a strike 3. R2, RH Batter takes K3, as he walks to dugout across the plate(1st base side), catcher pumps on a throw behind runner at 2nd but holds up seeing batter walking in front of him. Coach wants INT.

[Jocko]

Nope

[UmpTTS43]

Help settle a disagreement which I believe I may be wrong on. Here's the situation. R3 less than 2 outs. R3 takes secondary lead coming towards plate on pitch. F2 fires to 3B but is interfered with by B1. R3 never hesitates and keeps coming down line as ball sails due to Int. Do I have an out on R3 or B1. Pride is the bet. Thanks guys and gals.

ART. 5 . . . Interfere with the catcher's fielding or throwing by:

a. leaning over home plate,

b. stepping out of the batter's box,

c. making any other movement which hinders actions at home plate or the catcher's attempt to play on a runner, or

d. failing to make a reasonable effort to vacate a congested area when there is a throw to home plate and there is time for the batter to move away.

PENALTY: When there are two outs, the batter is out. When there are not two outs and the runner is advancing to home plate, if the runner is tagged out, the ball remains live and interfer­ence is ignored. Otherwise, the ball is dead and the runner is called out. When an attempt to put out a runner at any other base is unsuccessful, the ­batter is out and all runners must return to bases occupied at the time of the pitch. If the pitch is a third strike and in the umpire's judgment interference prevents a possible ­double play (additional outs), two may be ruled out (8-4-2g).

Unless R3 is stealing on the pitch, the batter is out for INT unless the batter is out on strikes. In this senario I do not have the runner stealing. Batter out, R3 returns. This is true in FED/OBR/NCAA rule sets.

[Rich Ives]

Rich, not so odd. Say it's a snap throw and B1 leans over the plate. Hypothetical. I had it one way, my partner the other. You've answered my question. Many thanks.

Soapbox - on your play the runner was at third. On a throw to 3B then the batter's leaning away from the throwing lane - and the catcher doesn't know how to play his position..

[noumpere]

Not to hijack, but how about on a strike 3. R2, RH Batter takes K3, as he walks to dugout across the plate(1st base side), catcher pumps on a throw behind runner at 2nd but holds up seeing batter walking in front of him. Coach wants INT.

Yep.

And on the OP if it is INT, and I agree with the others that it would be rare, then the batter is out.

[Mad Mike]

 

Help settle a disagreement which I believe I may be wrong on. Here's the situation. R3 less than 2 outs. R3 takes secondary lead coming towards plate on pitch. F2 fires to 3B but is interfered with by B1. R3 never hesitates and keeps coming down line as ball sails due to Int. Do I have an out on R3 or B1. Pride is the bet. Thanks guys and gals.

ART. 5 . . . Interfere with the catcher's fielding or throwing by:

 

a. leaning over home plate,

b. stepping out of the batter's box,

c. making any other movement which hinders actions at home plate or the catcher's attempt to play on a runner, or

d. failing to make a reasonable effort to vacate a congested area when there is a throw to home plate and there is time for the batter to move away.

PENALTY: When there are two outs, the batter is out. When there are not two outs and the runner is advancing to home plate, if the runner is tagged out, the ball remains live and interfer­ence is ignored. Otherwise, the ball is dead and the runner is called out. When an attempt to put out a runner at any other base is unsuccessful, the ­batter is out and all runners must return to bases occupied at the time of the pitch. If the pitch is a third strike and in the umpire's judgment interference prevents a possible ­double play (additional outs), two may be ruled out (8-4-2g).

 

Unless R3 is stealing on the pitch, the batter is out for INT unless the batter is out on strikes. In this senario I do not have the runner stealing. Batter out, R3 returns. This is true in FED/OBR/NCAA rule sets.

 

Slightly similar question, R2 no outs. RHB stikes out looking. R2 attempts steal. Batter still has bat up and takes a step towards first base dugout. Catcher makes a throw to third and the ball hits the bat diverting it near the third base coaching box. Under FED rules what would you have here?

 

I looked at 5-1-2a, delayed dead ball here. It lead to an Exception under 7-3-5. If I used 5©, would the runner be called out, or runner sent back, or runner allowed to stay at third?

[maven]

If you rule BI on the batter who struck out, the runner is out. If not, play on. Prolly BI, from your description. maven