Unique Situation

[umpire_scott]

We had a situation yesterday where I'm pretty certain we got the call right as all three of us had the same thing but it made me think of what might have happened. So here is the situation:

Runners on 1st and 2nd. Pretty sure there were no outs. Count is not relevant. Offensive team attempts a double steal. Runner from second got a great jump, and 3rd baseman breaks towards the bag because of the steal attempt. Batter hits a high chopper down the third base line, a few feet inside the bag. Ball, 3rd baseman, and runner all arrive at about the same time and there is a collision. We call the runner out for interference. OC argues that his runner was into his slide into third already, how can he be called out for that.

The reality of it is that he wasn't into his slide already. But I was thinking on that type of a play what if he was sliding into third? I would presume that just as if he was a hit with the batted ball while sliding it would not matter. That once it is a batted ball the runner has the obligation to not interfere with the first fielder that has a play on the ball.

[UmpJM]

umpire_scott,

Sounds like you got it right.

As you suggest, sliding does not relieve the runner of his responsibility to avoid a protected fielder who is in the act of fielding a batted ball.

JM

[Dannytheman]

I think you got this right all the way! Sliding doesn't remove anything.

[umpire_scott]

I told the OC between innings that is was just unfortunate that the play happened the way it did for him. The runner didn't do anything wrong, but the way the play ensued it was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Coaches too often look at interference as something their player could have avoided, in some unique situations it was unavoidable, but still interference.

[noumpere]

Unless the runner is on his base the protected fielder has an absolute right to the batted ball. The runner must avoid even if it becomes impossible to do.

[Jocko]

Unless the runner is on his base the protected fielder has an absolute right to the batted ball. The runner must avoid even if it becomes impossible to do.

what?

[scrounge]

Unless the runner is on his base the protected fielder has an absolute right to the batted ball. The runner must avoid even if it becomes impossible to do.

and it's an infield fly, right?

[noumpere]

Unless the runner is on his base the protected fielder has an absolute right to the batted ball. The runner must avoid even if it becomes impossible to do.

and it's an infield fly, right?

Right. lol. I first wrote the response without the qualifier and recognized that someone would call me out on it so I added it but didnt get it all.