Fan Interference

[hogsfan787]

http://wap.mlb.com/play?content_id=28269417

 

 

 

[grayhawk]

Hard to see on the replay, but I like the call.  Looked like a fan reached over to grab the ball and it wasn't going into the stands on it's own.  R1 was scoring easily if not for the fan interference.  Another great job by the third team!

[maven]

"That's gonna cost the Giants a run!"

 

then...

 

"He can't understand how all the umpires agree on the same call."

 

Too funny.

[Mad Mike]

Rule 7.05 (f) reads:

 

(f) Two bases, if a fair ball bounces or is deflected into the stands outside the first or

third base foul lines; or if it goes through or under a field fence, or through or under

a scoreboard, or through or under shrubbery or vines on the fence; or if it sticks in

such fence, scoreboard, shrubbery or vines;

 

Now, I think Redmond had a hard time determining how the umpires could let R1 score on this play. We can't judge if the ball would have stayed in the park because a fan grabbed it and hauled it in. That seems to be classic fan interference. However, I believe the umpires used this rule to award R1 home and place BR at second:

 

3.15 No person shall be allowed on the playing field during a game except players and

coaches in uniform, managers, news photographers authorized by the home team,

umpires, officers of the law in uniform and watchmen or other employees of the home

club. In case of unintentional interference with play by any person herein authorized to be

on the playing field (except members of the team at bat who are participating in the game,

or a base coach, any of whom interfere with a fielder attempting to field a batted or thrown

ball; or an umpire) the ball is alive and in play. If the interference is intentional, the ball

shall be dead at the moment of the interference and the umpire shall impose such penalties

as in his opinion will nullify the act of interference.

Rule 3.15 Comment: For interference with a fielder attempting to field a batted or thrown

ball by members of the team at bat or base coaches, who are excepted in Rule 3.15, see Rule 7.11. See

also Rules 5.09(b), 5.09(f) and 6.08(d), which cover interference by an umpire, and Rule 7.08(b),

which covers interference by a runner.

The question of intentional or unintentional interference shall be decided on the basis of the

person’s action. For example: a bat boy, ball attendant, policeman, etc., who tries to avoid being touched by a thrown or batted ball but still is touched by the ball would be involved in unintentional

interference. If, however, he kicks the ball or picks it up or pushes it, that is considered intentional

interference, regardless of what his thought may have been.

 

Now, look at Rule 3.16:

3.16 When there is spectator interference with any thrown or batted ball, the ball shall

be dead at the moment of interference and the umpire shall impose such penalties as in his

opinion will nullify the act of interference.

APPROVED RULING: If spectator interference clearly prevents a fielder from

catching a fly ball, the umpire shall declare the batter out.

Rule 3.16 Comment: There is a difference between a ball which has been thrown or batted

into the stands, touching a spectator thereby being out of play even though it rebounds onto the field

and a spectator going onto the field or reaching over, under or through a barrier and touching a ball in

play or touching or otherwise interfering with a player. In the latter case it is clearly intentional and

shall be dealt with as intentional interference as in Rule 3.15. Batter and runners shall be placed where

in the umpire’s judgment they would have been had the interference not occurred.

No interference shall be allowed when a fielder reaches over a fence, railing, rope or into a

stand to catch a ball. He does so at his own risk. However, should a spectator reach out on the playing

field side of such fence, railing or rope, and plainly prevent the fielder from catching the ball, then the

batsman should be called out for the spectator’s interference.

Example: Runner on third base, one out and a batter hits a fly ball deep to the outfield (fair

or foul). Spectator clearly interferes with the outfielder attempting to catch the fly ball. Umpire calls

the batter out for spectator interference. Ball is dead at the time of the call. Umpire decides that

because of the distance the ball was hit, the runner on third base would have scored after the catch if

the fielder had caught the ball which was interfered with, therefore, the runner is permitted to score.

This might not be the case if such fly ball was interfered with a short distance from home plate.

 

I believe the umpires relied upon 3.15 and 3.16 to make this ruling. It was not popular, but it would appear correct. Even if the ball had not left the park and had come back down off the hop to Stanton, there is no way he would have gunned out R1 at home.

 

 

 

[noumpere]

they used 3.16 only.  3.15 has nothing has nothing to do with this play and 7.05(f) doesn't either.

[maven]

Quoting all those rules makes this umpiring thing seem really hard!

 

It's spectator INT because a fan contacted the ball over the field of play. A dead ball went into the stands, but that's irrelevant. Umpires place runners. Pretty simple, really.

[Jesse]

Winters has one hell of a moustache.

[Lindsay]

We've had two ejections this season on runner placement following spectator interference, both times we ruled the umpires got the call right and both times our ruling was challenged.

 

In affirming the rulings, our Appeals Board has become fond of the phrase, "The umpires are more than capable of placing runners."

[Thunderheads]

Winters has one hell of a moustache.