Older Video but I Have a Question

[MIZUMP]

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=25581415&c_id=mlb

 

The play is pretty cut and dry. It's obvious Byrnes never touches the plate and Varitek retrieves the ball and tags him out.

 

My question is the push from Byrnes as Varitek is headed to the backstop. Would anyone consider calling interference on a play like that? Especially if the push would have been enough to put a catcher on the ground. The umpire here seems to stand up as it happens. Looks like he is thinking about something here but realizes Byrnes isn't going to attempt to come back to touch the plate.

 

Nothing terribly interesting here. Just food for thought. Maybe a little discussion.

[alex7]

Interesting.  Perhaps INT and Byrnes is out as he hasn't touched the plate.  Or in a scenario where he does touch the plate, call INT and no runners advance.

[grayhawk]

That's a tough one. In general, my opinion is that they are not making a play on a runner (yet), so no interference. They are chasing after a poor throw that got away. However, if the shove is enough to knock down F2, then SOMETHING has to be called.

 

You could use 3.15, kill it and place the runners at the bases achieved at the time of the interference. Score the run, put R1 back at second and BR at first.  R3 is ejected. Then, when the defense appeals R3's miss of home (after the ball is put back into play), call out R3.

[BalkHawk]

Yes, possibly. Not at all on the video in question, but if Varitek had fallen from the shove, I would definitely have banged the runner out. The skip would probably need to be restrained until he could hear the explanation that the runner never touched . 

[Umpire in Chief]

As it is I'd have nothing, but if it were a serious push then INT. 

[Sayhey]

It is called interference without a play. Ken Kaiser called Rickey Henderson on it. You can read about it in Ken Kaiser's book. Kaiser called a runner out at third after Rickey scored and then interfered with the catcher

[JaxRolo]

It is called interference without a play. Ken Kaiser called Rickey Henderson on it. You can read about it in Ken Kaiser's book. Kaiser called a runner out at third after Rickey scored and then interfered with the catcher

 

I think there was Malicious Contact!