Batter Interference?

[mbrown2097]

Runner on 3rd.  Passed ball is retrieved by catcher and as he makes his way back to the plate to attempt to tag the advancing runner from 3rd, he runs into the right handed batter who hasn't moved from his batting position in the batter's box.  Assuming that he had a play on the runner, do you have interference. 

[Jocko]

I am definitely getting an out. Which player is out depends on how many outs there are.

[JaxRolo]

Yes

[mbrown2097]

Is this a 6.06C situation?

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.

 

Or is simply interference by definition.

Offensive interference is an act by the team at bat which interferes with,
obstructs, impedes, hinders or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play.
If the umpire declares the batter, batter-runner, or a runner out for interference,
all other runners shall return to the last base that was in the judgment of the
umpire, legally touched at the time of the interference, unless otherwise provided
by these rules.
 

[grayhawk]

You have to judge if the batter had the opportunity to get out of dodge.  Sure sounds like it in this case, so with less than 2 outs, the runner is out.  With 2 outs, the batter is out.

[1dumbquestion]

I have a hard time getting an out based on the OP. First the D is the one that errored with the passed ball (screw the team that screwed up). 6.06c mentions stepping out of the box or any other movement. We've got neither in the OP. Give me something else that the batter did and I'll take an out. Other wise I'd say good job batter. I'm willing to be convinced otherwise. 1

[mbrown2097]

Batter had the chance to get out of Dodge for sure.  I think the main question here is does 6.06 C apply to a passed ball or wild pitch. Personally, I don't think it applies but if you read it carefully, there is room for misinterpretation.

[mbrown2097]

For me "hinders the catcher’s play at home base" is not the same as hindering a catcher making a play at home base.

Did I just lose everyone?

[mstaylor]

6.06c goes away once the catcher has to chase it. Once that happens you have to judge could the batter clear. If he tries and is still in the way then likely no out. If he does nothing then I'm getting the out. 

[Jimurray]

Hasn't the batter become another teammate now so the runner is always out. And, no one asked if the pitch was strike three. Granted highly unlikely on a passed ball.

[mbrown2097]

I don't have access so hopefully someone else can help. Is there anything on this in the MLBUM or a case play on this? I have some colleagues that are unconvinced. They believe that 606c covers this play. I'm not in that camp but won't be able to change their minds without a rule cite or MLB interp. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

[mstaylor]

Hopefully someone can supply a cite. 6.06c is only for when the catcher catches the ball or the ball is close enough not to chase. Once he chases the batter has time to clear so he must. 

[Jocko]

Hasn't the batter become another teammate now so the runner is always out. And, no one asked if the pitch was strike three. Granted highly unlikely on a passed ball.

it's semantics, but by rule, with 2 outs, the batter is out. With less than 2 outs, R3 is out and batter resumes his AB.

[mbrown2097]

Hopefully someone can supply a cite. 6.06c is only for when the catcher catches the ball or the ball is close enough not to chase. Once he chases the batter has time to clear so he must.

For what it is worth, I'm in line with this. My colleague's retort though is "show me in the rules where it says that." Right now, I got nothing except I believe that is the intent of the rule. BTW, he is watching this thread. How would you advise him?

[Jocko]

Hopefully someone can supply a cite. 6.06c is only for when the catcher catches the ball or the ball is close enough not to chase. Once he chases the batter has time to clear so he must.

For what it is worth, I'm in line with this. My colleague's retort though is "show me in the rules where it says that." Right now, I got nothing except I believe that is the intent of the rule. BTW, he is watching this thread. How would you advise him?I would be a smartass. Stand strong that you're correct (you are) and CHALLENGE him to find out why. Give a man a fish.....

[mstaylor]

Tell him to look at 7.08g for when 6.06c doesn't apply. He also needs to join the board, not to slam him but to have good conversations to bring your group's overall rules knowledge up.

[cyclonehokiece]

 

 

Hopefully someone can supply a cite. 6.06c is only for when the catcher catches the ball or the ball is close enough not to chase. Once he chases the batter has time to clear so he must.

For what it is worth, I'm in line with this. My colleague's retort though is "show me in the rules where it says that." Right now, I got nothing except I believe that is the intent of the rule. BTW, he is watching this thread. How would you advise him? I would be a smartass. Stand strong that you're correct (you are) and CHALLENGE him to find out why. Give a man a fish.....

 

Jocko, you are always a smartass.

[Jocko]

Hopefully someone can supply a cite. 6.06c is only for when the catcher catches the ball or the ball is close enough not to chase. Once he chases the batter has time to clear so he must.

For what it is worth, I'm in line with this. My colleague's retort though is "show me in the rules where it says that." Right now, I got nothing except I believe that is the intent of the rule. BTW, he is watching this thread. How would you advise him?I would be a smartass. Stand strong that you're correct (you are) and CHALLENGE him to find out why. Give a man a fish.....

Jocko, you are always a smartass.true :D

[Fittske24]

7.09 ( c) and (d). If batter has time and opportunity to vacate, then he must. Less than two outs, runner out, with two outs, batter out.

[mstaylor]

So you have 6.06c,7.08b,7.09 c&d cover all the cases. 

[Jocko]

7.09 ( c) and (d). If batter has time and opportunity to vacate, then he must. Less than two outs, runner out, with two outs, batter out.

what, are you the rules pimp too???

[mbrown2097]

Here is my answer to my colleague.  (Keeping in mind that he will only consider what is actually written in the OBR rules. Some of the answer is a little strict because of that. Point being, if you are only going to look at what is written, then you should ONLY LOOK AT WHAT IS WRITTEN.)

 

Take a Look at 7.09c

It is interference by a batter or runner when –

c- Before two are out and a runner on third base, the batter hinders a fielder in making a play at home base; the runner is out.

d-Any member or members of the offensive team stand or gather around any base to which a runner is advancing, to confuse, hinder or add to the difficulty of the fielders.  Such runner shall be declared out for the interference of his teammate.

 

BTW 2.00 A Fielder is any defensive player. (so this applies to the catcher too)

 

Several things to think about using the purist perspective.

1. 6.06c “A Batter is out when.†– This rule is not defining interference.  2.00 and 7.09c do that.  6.06c is defining punishment for a batter that interferes by moving.
2. 6.06c A BATTER is out when. – Doesn’t protect the runner from being called out due to the batter interfering. (7.09c)
3. 6.06c Says he is out for stepping out or making any other movement that hinders.  Doesn’t say that he is protected by freezing.  Just says that if he does make a movement that hinders, then the batter specifically is out.
4. 7.09c clearly says “hinders a fielder in making a play at home base.† It doesn’t say that he moves and hinders, rather it just says hinders.  You can hinder by standing in the way.
5. 7.09D in fact says that a batter who stands around a base to which a runner is advancing, to confuse or hinder or add to the difficulty is guilty of interference and the runner is out.

Attempting to eliminate interpretation and just apply the rules that exist (purist), I still have an out based on the above.

7.09D is the most damning.  We have a batter standing around a base (home base) making it more difficult for the catcher to make a play on a runner that is advancing. 

 

You’ve made me work on this one.  Enjoying the challenge.

Mike

[KLAH316]

Ok, typical situation that happens alot in youth ball......

 

R2 stealing on the pitch. Pitch is a little inside and B1 backs up because hes scared to get hit. F2 catches the ball and stands up, cocks his throwing arm back but makes no attempt to throw to 3B......

 

BI or not? I have always said no since there was no attempt to make a play and can't read the F2's mind if he was ever going to throw.

 

Thoughts?

[noumpere]

You don't need a throw but you need an attempt to throw.  Just cocking is probably not enough but you have to judge the situation and each one is different.

[mstaylor]

Cocking is probably not enough, but any follow through is certainly enough.