Batter Interference With Catcher

[Mad Mike]

OBR BI Question.

 

2-2 count. 1 out. R2.

Batter swings at strike three pitch and misses. He throws his bat as he runs for first base. The bat nails the catcher who has blocked the ball, but does not have possession of the ball. The catcher fails to field the ball because the bat striking him. (Let's say he is a little dazed due to the contact.) The BR makes it to first safely and R2 advances to third. What do you have here?

 

Looking at OBR 6.06 ©, I can see in the last paragraph they are talking about a back swing with the bat. In this case, would you consider this to be the same as a back swing with the batter throwing the bat too hard and directly into the catcher?

 

What would you have if it there was only one strike on the batter and he threw the bat on a swing? (R2 advances to third as the catcher is unable to field the ball cleanly)

 

OBR Rule 6.06-A batter is out for illegal action when:

 

© He interferes with the catcher’s fielding or throwing by stepping out of the batter’s 

box or making any other movement that hinders the catcher’s play at home base. 

EXCEPTION: Batter is not out if any runner attempting to advance is put out, or if 

runner trying to score is called out for batter’s interference. 

 Rule 6.06© Comment: If the batter interferes with the catcher, the plate umpire shall call 

“interference.†The batter is out and the ball dead. No player may advance on such interference 

(offensive interference) and all runners must return to the last base that was, in the judgment of the 

umpire, legally touched at the time of the interference. 

 If, however, the catcher makes a play and the runner attempting to advance is put out, it is to be 

assumed there was no actual interference and that runner is out--not the batter. Any other runners on the 

base at the time may advance as the ruling is that there is no actual interference if a runner is retired. In 

that case play proceeds just as if no violation had been called. 

 If a batter strikes at a ball and misses and swings so hard he carries the bat all the way around and, 

in the umpire’s judgment, unintentionally hits the catcher or the ball in back of him on the backswing 

before the catcher has securely held the ball, it shall be called a strike only (not interference). The ball 

will be dead, however, and no runner shall advance on the play

 

OBR Rule 6.05: A batter is out when:

 

(h) After hitting or bunting a fair ball, his bat hits the ball a second time in fair territory. 

The ball is dead and no runners may advance. If the batter-runner drops his bat and 

the ball rolls against the bat in fair territory and, in the umpire’s judgment, there was 

no intention to interfere with the course of the ball, the ball is alive and in play. If 

the batter is in a legal position in the batter’s box, see Rule 6.03, and, in the 

umpire’s judgment, there was no intention to interfere with the course of the ball, a 

batted ball that strikes the batter or his bat shall be ruled a foul ball; 

 Rule 6.05(h) Comment: If a bat breaks and part of it is in fair territory and is hit by a batted ball or 

part of it hits a runner or fielder, play shall continue and no interference called. If batted ball hits part of 

a broken bat in foul territory, it is a foul ball. 

 If a whole bat is thrown into fair territory and interferes with a defensive player attempting to make 

a play, interference shall be called, whether intentional or not. 

 In cases where the batting helmet is accidentally hit with a batted ball on or over fair territory or a 

thrown ball, the ball remains in play the same as if it has not hit the helmet. 

 If a batted ball strikes a batting helmet or any other object foreign to the natural ground while on 

foul territory, it is a foul ball and the ball is dead. 

 If, in the umpire’s judgment, there is intent on the part of a baserunner to interfere with a batted or 

thrown ball by dropping the helmet or throwing it at the ball, then the runner would be out, the ball dead 

and runners would return to last base legally touched. 

 

(Side Note: I did not use 6.05 (h) because the ball was not batted AND the bat was not thrown into fair territory. It was thrown in such a manner that it struck the catcher while in fair ground.)

 

 

[AmackNH]

He made a movement that "hindered the catchers play" right?  I am taking the batter and returning the runner to second.

[Mike Prince]

I have BI here, batter is out and R2 stays at 2nd.  The batter interfered with the catcher by throwing his bat at him (the "or making any other movement" part of 6.06c).

[maven]

The batter is out on strike 3. R2 is out for the retired batter's INT. Inning over.

[semper_fi_72]

This is the time you get the out for a thrown bat.

It caused Interference with F2s ability to make a play.

R2 returns to 2nd base.

The batter is out on strike 3. R2 is out for the retired batter's INT. Inning over.

Please explain how your getting TWO outs on this sit.

[maven]

 

The batter is out on strike 3. R2 is out for the retired batter's INT. Inning over.

Please explain how your getting TWO outs on this sit.

 

Wishful thinking?

I'd have an easier time explaining how I forgot the smiley in my original post.

[okump96]

 

 

The batter is out on strike 3. R2 is out for the retired batter's INT. Inning over.

Please explain how your getting TWO outs on this sit.

 

Wishful thinking?

I'd have an easier time explaining how I forgot the smiley in my original post.

 

 

OP has 2-2 count. I'd get 2 outs on this also.

[sdix00]

Bingo two four. This is batter runner interference, not batter interference. Different rule. Different mechanic. The key here is that the batter is now a runner.

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