runner interference on pop fly

[Guest jhopp]

Here's the situation and what happens.....

runner on first, no outs, batter hits a pop up that goes directly up and comes down almost exactly on first base.

First scenerio......

runner on first does not move at all. 1st basemen slides over to make the catch and just before the catch he bumps into the guy standing

on first causing the 1st basemen to drop the ball.

Second scenerio.....

runner moves off 1st base towards second base and 1st basement moves over to get under the ball and is now standing right on top of 1st base. The runner not wanting to be called out for leaving 1st comes back to first and just as the 1st basemen  is about to catch the ball he bumps into him and once again the catch is dropped.

 

Personally, i have seen both things happen and both times I called dead ball runner interference.

 

In the first scenerio, it was my judgement that even thou the runner doesn't need to leave the base which would result in a double play, he could of stepped over to the side of the bag and kept a foot on the bag and allowed the 1st basemen to make the catch. I know the runner didn't intentionally interfere, but he also did nothing to not interfere.

 

In the second scenerio, I again called runner interference because although the runner has a right to get back to the bag, he could of slide in or went low to corner of bag which would avoided the bumping of the 1st basemen trying to make the catch.

 

Were my calls correct? I know the offensive team did not think so in either case. But to me getting called for interference has the same result as allowing the guy to catch the ball. Both equal one out and avoid a double play.

 

Also, please confirm that the runner is out, and the batter should be granted 1st, and if there was a runner on 2nd or 3rd they would have to return.

 

thanks.

[johnnyg08]

Scenario 1 no interference. Ball remains live assuming it is a fair ball

Scenario 2 interference and based on your post you might have an infield fly so you'd return the runners and if infield fly you could get two. No runners can advance on interference.

[jhopp]

Here's the situation and what happens.....

runner on first, no outs, batter hits a pop up that goes directly up and comes down almost exactly on first base.

First scenerio......

runner on first does not move at all. 1st basemen slides over to make the catch and just before the catch he bumps into the guy standing

on first causing the 1st basemen to drop the ball.

Second scenerio.....

runner moves off 1st base towards second base and 1st basement moves over to get under the ball and is now standing right on top of 1st base. The runner not wanting to be called out for leaving 1st comes back to first and just as the 1st basemen  is about to catch the ball he bumps into him and once again the catch is dropped.

 

Personally, i have seen both things happen and both times I called dead ball runner interference.

 

In the first scenerio, it was my judgement that even thou the runner doesn't need to leave the base which would result in a double play, he could of stepped over to the side of the bag and kept a foot on the bag and allowed the 1st basemen to make the catch. I know the runner didn't intentionally interfere, but he also did nothing to not interfere.

 

In the second scenerio, I again called runner interference because although the runner has a right to get back to the bag, he could of slide in or went low to corner of bag which would avoided the bumping of the 1st basemen trying to make the catch.

 

Were my calls correct? I know the offensive team did not think so in either case. But to me getting called for interference has the same result as allowing the guy to catch the ball. Both equal one out and avoid a double play.

 

Also, please confirm that the runner is out, and the batter should be granted 1st, and if there was a runner on 2nd or 3rd they would have to return.

 

thanks.

by the way, this is for slow pitch softball league, no leading off 1st by runner allowed.

[Richvee]

I agree with your 2nd scenario. Once he leaves the base, the onus is on him. If he wished to return to the base he must do so without interfering. However, I disagree with your call in scenario one. The runner has a right to the base, and is not guilty of interference unless he deliberately interferes with the fielder. He is under no obligation to move to the side of the base, or duck, or anything else. If he's just standing on the base, he has not committed INT. 

[johnnyg08]

Oh in that case I'm not sure.

[Richvee]

Softball?? ...I have no idea if it's the same. 

[basejester]

In OBR:

7.08 Any runner is out when—

. . .

(b) He intentionally interferes with a thrown ball; or hinders a fielder attempting to

make a play on a batted ball;

Rule 7.08(b) Comment: A runner who is adjudged to have hindered a fielder who is attempting

to make a play on a batted ball is out whether it was intentional or not.

If, however, the runner has contact with a legally occupied base when he hinders the fielder, he

shall not be called out unless, in the umpire’s judgment, such hindrance, whether it occurs on fair or

foul territory, is intentional. If the umpire declares the hindrance intentional, the following penalty

shall apply: With less than two out, the umpire shall declare both the runner and batter out. With two

out, the umpire shall declare the batter out.

I'm equally ignorant of slow pitch softball rules, but you might specify which ruleset so that someone else can answer.

[johnnyg08]

In OBR:

7.08 Any runner is out when—

. . .

(b) He intentionally interferes with a thrown ball; or hinders a fielder attempting to

make a play on a batted ball;

Rule 7.08(b) Comment: A runner who is adjudged to have hindered a fielder who is attempting

to make a play on a batted ball is out whether it was intentional or not.

If, however, the runner has contact with a legally occupied base when he hinders the fielder, he

shall not be called out unless, in the umpire’s judgment, such hindrance, whether it occurs on fair or

foul territory, is intentional. If the umpire declares the hindrance intentional, the following penalty

shall apply: With less than two out, the umpire shall declare both the runner and batter out. With two

out, the umpire shall declare the batter out.

I'm equally ignorant of slow pitch softball rules, but you might specify which ruleset so that someone else can answer.

 

 

Nice OBR post @basejester

[noumpere]

In OBR:

7.08 Any runner is out when—

. . .

(b) He intentionally interferes with a thrown ball; or hinders a fielder attempting to

make a play on a batted ball;

Rule 7.08(b) Comment: A runner who is adjudged to have hindered a fielder who is attempting

to make a play on a batted ball is out whether it was intentional or not.

If, however, the runner has contact with a legally occupied base when he hinders the fielder, he

shall not be called out unless, in the umpire’s judgment, such hindrance, whether it occurs on fair or

foul territory, is intentional. If the umpire declares the hindrance intentional, the following penalty

shall apply: With less than two out, the umpire shall declare both the runner and batter out. With two

out, the umpire shall declare the batter out.

I'm equally ignorant of slow pitch softball rules, but you might specify which ruleset so that someone else can answer.

The bolded part becomes important in the second play.  If R1 interferes, then steps on the base, he's out.  if R1 steps on the base and then makes (unintentional) contact, it becomes play 1 -- the ball remains live.

 

And I don't know anything about any softball rules.

[blue23ll]

Slow pitch has rules? 

[Majordave]

1. Drink a lot of beer.

2. Try to hit ball as far as you can. Every time you swing.

3. See rule 1.

[BretMan]

Softball ruling would be the same in this case.

 

1) Runner not guilty of interference if in contact with his base. No penalty, live ball, play on.

 

2) Runner out for interference with a fielder who is fielding a batted ball.

[johnnyg08]

Softball ruling would be the same in this case.

 

1) Runner not guilty of interference if in contact with his base. No penalty, live ball, play on.

 

2) Runner out for interference with a fielder who is fielding a batted ball.

 

Thanks @BretMan.  Appears as though the rules match on this type of play?

[grozzly]

Slow pitch has rules?