Interference on infield fly rule

[tiger79]

What is the ruling on the following - bases loaded, infield fly rule is announced by umpire on pop up, runner interferes with catch attempt and ball is dropped?

[CricketChapman]

 

Okay.  So I have examined all of this and it leads me to the following conclusion on non-IFF pop-up interference plays:

In OBR, the runner is out.  The ball is dead immediately and the batter-runner is awarded first base, regardless of if the ball is fair or foul (determined by its' landing or first touching).

 

Not correct.

 

Okay.  So you are saying it is a delayed dead ball, and fair/foul is a necessary determinant in deciding what happens to the BR.  Is fair/foul determined by the ball's position at moment of interference, the position of the fielder at the moment of interference, or the position of the ball when it is touched or lands and stops moving?

Authority?

[grayhawk]

 

Okay.  So I have examined all of this and it leads me to the following conclusion on non-IFF pop-up interference plays:

In OBR, the runner is out.  The ball is dead immediately and the batter-runner is awarded first base, regardless of if the ball is fair or foul (determined by its' landing or first touching).

 

Not correct.

 

 

You are correct to say that it's not correct.

 

Cricket, when a runner interferes with a fielder on a foul fly ball (one which is not an IFF), the runner is out and a strike (if less than 2 strikes were on the batter) is added to the count.  If there were already 2 strikes, then there is no effect on the count.

 

When a runner interferes with a fair fly ball (not an IFF), then the runner is out and the batter is awarded first.

 

Just saw your last post:

 

1.  If it's not an IFF, then the ball is immediately dead on the interference.

2.  You determine fair/foul just like you always do.

[grayhawk]

Just thought of a scenario that could result in two outs.

 

R3, 2-2 count, 1 out.  Safety squeeze is on (unlikely, I know, but I had a batter lay down a bunt with 2 strikes last week).  Batter attempts a bunt which is popped up 5 feet foul on the third base side.  R3, who was down the line sees this and starts back for third base.  In doing so, he runs into F5 who is on his way to catch the ball.

 

Ruling:  R2 out for interference.  Ball is immediately dead.  Since the batter bunted foul with 2 strikes, he is out as well.

 

Correct?

[CricketChapman]

 

 

Cricket, when a runner interferes with a fielder on a foul fly ball (one which is not an IFF), the runner is out and a strike (if less than 2 strikes were on the batter) is added to the count.  If there were already 2 strikes, then there is no effect on the count.

 

When a runner interferes with a fair fly ball (not an IFF), then the runner is out and the batter is awarded first.

 

Just saw your last post:

 

1.  If it's not an IFF, then the ball is immediately dead on the interference.

2.  You determine fair/foul just like you always do.

 

Thank you for the simple explanation.  Okay - that is what I thought going into the thread, but after reading 50 or so posts, I lost my sanity.

[maven]

1.  If it's not an IFF, then the ball is immediately dead on the interference.

2.  You determine fair/foul just like you always do.

Just a small quibble about this. We want to leave the ball live until its fair/foul status is determined. That might be some time after the INT (e.g., popup lands fair, rolls foul, comes to rest).

 

THEN kill it and penalize the INT accordingly.

[grayhawk]

 

1.  If it's not an IFF, then the ball is immediately dead on the interference.

2.  You determine fair/foul just like you always do.

Just a small quibble about this. We want to leave the ball live until its fair/foul status is determined. That might be some time after the INT (e.g., popup lands fair, rolls foul, comes to rest).

 

THEN kill it and penalize the INT accordingly.

 

 

I guess it's a matter of technicality.  The ball is immediately dead on the interference, but WE should not call time until the fair/foul status is determined.  My main point is that it is not a delayed dead ball, like a type B obstruction.