Different kind of fan interference?

[Concernedcitizen2]

I understand (I think) the rules on fan interference on fly balls, but in this situation, a fan is touching the player during a live ball situation, you can see it at 0:44.  In this situation it doesn't really affect his play, but is that a reason not to call fan interference? Should contact alone be considered interference?  What would the penalty be if the fan grabs his arm on purpose so he can't throw?

 

http://wapc.mlb.com/play?content_id=30308627&topic_id=47076722

[Umpire in Chief]

Good question this might be a call for 9.01( c).

 

If you judge he actively assisted (like helped keep the snow cone catch in the glove) or hampered (didn't let him back up to continue playing or make a subsequent play) you could make a ruling in one way or another, but otherwise let it ride.

 

In my examples if the fan held the snow cone in the glove - I'd have to rule catch/no catch based on did I think he had the ball in his control before the fan interfered.

If the fans kept the fielder from being able to make a subsequent play, I'd kill it and no runners advance/return to last legally occupied base at the time of the Interference.

[Concernedcitizen2]

Now that I think of it, this actually reminds me of something that I believe happened in the 2002 World Series at Anaheim Stadium there was a ball hit to the wall, Giants outfielder goes to pick it up, as he's bending over, a fan starts beating him on the back with one of the "boomsticks" they have to make noise (the ones that are inflatable thick drum sticks that you hit together), the announcers on TV caught it, but the umpires made no call.

[noumpere]

I understand (I think) the rules on fan interference on fly balls, but in this situation, a fan is touching the player during a live ball situation, you can see it at 0:44.  In this situation it doesn't really affect his play, but is that a reason not to call fan interference? Should contact alone be considered interference?  What would the penalty be if the fan grabs his arm on purpose so he can't throw?

 

 

The rule is "touches a player and hinders" so both are needed.  Just touching is not enough.

[Rich Ives]

Where was there any hindrance?

 

Just a pat on the back.

 

In fact, at 0:44 the hand,glove,and ball  are in the stands. There can be no interference in the stands.

 

Another case of discovering a rule and just looking for a chance to apply it.

[mstaylor]

Actually the fan pulls on his arm, essentially helping him up. There was no play so no call. If he had made a play on the runner tagging then you might need to consider did the fan help him. And Rich, that part was on the field, I agree the catch was in the stands.