INT?

[Larry in TN]

OBR/LL Juniors.  R2.  Ground ball, throw beats BR to 1B on the hop but becomes lodged under BR's arm.  By the time the BR drops the ball there is no time to stop R2 from scoring.  DC wants R2 returned to R3 due to interference.  Umpires allow the run to score.  BR safe at 1B.

 

Was that correct?

[Replacematt]

What, pray tell, are they arguing is interference?

[Richvee]

Sounds like the right call. Where's the interference? Lodged ball under the arm is not a catch or secure possession. BR safe, play on. 

[ALStripes17]

Sounds like the right call. Where's the interference? Lodged ball under the arm is not a catch or secure possession. BR safe, play on.

BR caught ball in his arm, not F3

[Larry in TN]

Sounds like the right call. Where's the interference? Lodged ball under the arm is not a catch or secure possession. BR safe, play on. 

 

Their argument was that while the batter-runner was in possession of the live ball they could not attempt to stop, or put-out, R2 as he scored.  The BR was preventing them from gaining possession of the ball in order to make a play.

[Richvee]

 

Sounds like the right call. Where's the interference? Lodged ball under the arm is not a catch or secure possession. BR safe, play on.

BR caught ball in his arm, not F3

 

my bad. Misread that. In that case, BR safe. Ball is dead once it's lodged in an offensive player. Unless R2 was around 3rd and heading home when the ball became lodged in BR (doubtful) I'm putting R2 back to 3rd. 

[Replacematt]

 

Sounds like the right call. Where's the interference? Lodged ball under the arm is not a catch or secure possession. BR safe, play on. 

 

Their argument was that while the batter-runner was in possession of the live ball they could not attempt to stop, or put-out, R2 as he scored.  The BR was preventing them from gaining possession of the ball in order to make a play.

 

 

If he wasn't intentionally squeezing it, then it's nothing. Next time, they should throw it where it should go.

[mjr_2013]

Did it go up his sleeve? I don't see how a thrown ball gets unintentionally stuck between a runners arm and body. It probably would hurt...

 

If it is being intentionally held there, kill it.

 

If it went up his sleeve, kill it.

 

If it just oddly stuck there for a quick second before falling in short right, keep it live.

 

Just my 

[Richvee]

  By the time the BR drops the ball there is no time to stop R2 from scoring.  

That sounds to me like it was lodged long enough to kill it. 

[DVA7130]

If he held it long enough to be judged intentional,

BR out, R2 returned to last base acquired at time of interference?

[mjr_2013]

If he held it long enough to be judged intentional,

BR out, R2 returned to last base acquired at time of interference?

 

I feel like that's grabbing the crappy end of the stick. The defense was the one who screwed up, and it doesn't sound like he was trying to gain an advantage, it was just there, and he allowed it. If he threw it from the arm into RF foul territory, and then took off for 2nd, I might agree with you, but I feel like a lodged ball sure is easier to call (and justify) in this case.

[maven]

If he wasn't intentionally squeezing it, then it's nothing. Next time, they should throw it where it should go.

This.

 

Umpire judgment whether it was intentional. There will be clear cases both ways: ball drops out 2 steps from the base (no intent), or he holds it until he stops running out in RF or longer (intent).

 

This is INT with a thrown ball, which is why intent matters. If the umpire rules INT, then the BR is out, and runners return to their TOI bases (which is probably R2 back to 3B).

 

Borderline cases/benefit of any doubt to the offense, again for the reason Matt mentions: if the defense doesn't want to risk this outcome, they should throw it properly.

 

So, @Larry in TN: the applicable rule is INT with a thrown ball, and the correctness of the call on the field is umpire judgment and HTBT.