interference or play on?

[Richvee]

Following up on JaxRolo's facebook post on the FED page...

 

R1. Ground ball to F4 who bobbles, R1 inadvertently kicks the ball after the bobble but the ball is just in front of F4, clearly within his reach. R1 does not make any contact with F4. Would contacting the ball constitute INT here the same as if R1 ran into F4 after the bobble with the ball still within F4's reach? 

 

My 1st instinct is to say it's INT, but then how about this situation.

 

R1, Ground ball up the middle, just to the 1st base side of 2nd. F4, with with his right foot on 2nd, tries to field the ball, but bobbles it. As he reaches for the ball (It's still right there at his feet, right next to 2nd base), R1 slides into 2nd and the ball goes scooting into short LF. 

 

Given this 2nd situation, it seems an inadvertent kick after a bobble would not be subject to the same "within a step and a reach" criteria as would the runner making contact with the fielder.

 

So "play on" in both situations unless we judge the contact with the ball to be intentional?

 

Would ruleset matter?  

[maven]

No INT. When a fielder misplays a ball, HE is still protected. The ball is not: runner INT here would have to be intentional.

The "step and reach" criterion applies to determining whether the fielder is still protected.

maven

[kstrunk]

Where do I find 'step and reach' criteria? 

[GreyhoundAggie]

You don't. It is considered the interpretation of a fielder "making a play"

[noumpere]

Where do I find 'step and reach' criteria? 

Since you're trying to learn FED (at least I recall that), search for "in the fielders immediate reach" or some similar wording under "when a runner is out (8-4-2)".  Sorry I don't have books here for an exact reference.

[Jimurray]

 

Where do I find 'step and reach' criteria? 

Since you're trying to learn FED (at least I recall that), search for "in the fielders immediate reach" or some similar wording under "when a runner is out (8-4-2)".  Sorry I don't have books here for an exact reference.

 

g. intentionally interferes with a throw or a thrown ball; or he hinders a fielder on his initial attempt to field a batted ball. A fielder is not protected, except from intentional contact if he misplays the ball and has to move from his original location;

[Richvee]

 

 

Where do I find 'step and reach' criteria? 

Since you're trying to learn FED (at least I recall that), search for "in the fielders immediate reach" or some similar wording under "when a runner is out (8-4-2)".  Sorry I don't have books here for an exact reference.

 

g. intentionally interferes with a throw or a thrown ball; or he hinders a fielder on his initial attempt to field a batted ball. A fielder is not protected, except from intentional contact if he misplays the ball and has to move from his original location;

 

This is actually what caused my confusion. In my example, the fielder hasn't moved from his original position, so he IS protected. However, @maven did a nice job for me clearing it up, that contact with the ball by the runner would not constitute INT after it had been touched by the fielder. The fielder is protected from  hinderance by the runner if the fielder is within the "step and a reach". A runner making contact with the ball after a bobble, if unintentional, is nothing. . 

[johnnyg08]

This was a tricky one for me. When I first read it I leaned toward Interference.

No Int makes much more sense.

[noumpere]

 

This is actually what caused my confusion. In my example, the fielder hasn't moved from his original position, so he IS protected. However, @maven did a nice job for me clearing it up, that contact with the ball by the runner would not constitute INT after it had been touched by the fielder. The fielder is protected from  hinderance by the runner if the fielder is within the "step and a reach". A runner making contact with the ball after a bobble, if unintentional, is nothing. . 

 

 

 

You can see the same principal in the opposite case (ignore all the "what ifs" for this).  F1 deflects a batted ball toward F4.  R1 contacts (a) the ball or (b) F4.   Ruling: (a) play on; (b) interference .

 

Interference with a fielder is different from interference with the ball and need to be learned / studied / applied differently.