Interference Call

[sthomas13100]

My first year doing high school baseball.  I have a head coach that has quit a reputation for being jerk. 

 

I'm working the plate.  Top of 7, bases loaded with two outs.  Routine ground ball to SS, B2 makes contact with SS and the ball rolls through his legs.  I call "time, that interference!"  Head coach comes up and says some stupid stuff about the runner has the right to go directly to the base, I guess he thinks I'm stupid.  I let him have his time and then tell him we are done.  He then proceeds to walk onto the field and continue his argument with my partner wanting to know why he didn't make the call from 20' away.  I cut the guy off, ordered him off the field and confined him to the dugout (I know, most of you guys hate the timeout in the dugout, but that's how we are told to handle it).

 

It was the right call, however I did talk to my partner after the game and asked him if he saw the interference.  He did not.

 

My question;  who has the primary coverage with bases loaded?  I think it was his primary coverage, but he did not open up to the ball and never saw the contact.

 

Games worked: 27

[JaxRolo]

Bases Loaded. That means 3 Runners and a BR. 2 Umpires.

Something will be missed along the way. But your partner should have seen this if hes following the ball to the fielder

 

If you see it call it.

 

Good call.

[scrounge]

Actually, I think the PU is much better situated to see this, esp if it's not right at moment of fielding but even then. The BU will be swiveling and on the move - the PU will almost assuredly have a more stable view. All the BU might see is "something" happened but not quite sure what.

 

Perfect time to say "coach, the fielder has an absolute right of way when fielding the ball". Done.

[maven]

So, first point: any umpire may call runner INT. You're fine calling that, and it sounds as if it was the proper call.

 

May I make some game management suggestions? I don't know your coach or his reputation: I make something of a point of ignoring reputations, and just dealing with the moment.

 

When he comes out, he partly wants to vent, partly wants to work you, and partly wants an explanation. You let him vent, and you ignored his working you, which is fine. But when he finishes his "argument," you still might try offering him an explanation.

 

"Coach, you're right, normally the runner has the right of way. But when the fielder is fielding a batted ball, he has absolute right of way, and the runner has to go around him."

 

Now he's had his say, and he's heard the basis for your ruling, and it's time to get back to baseball.

 

I might be reading too much into your tone, but you sound rather hostile to this coach. If you approach a confrontation expecting problems, they have a funny way of becoming real.

[Recontra]

I agree with Jax. Interference and obstruction, call it if you see it (unless your partner is right there and you can tell for sure he had eyes on play and made a silent "that's nothing" determination). You may also have had the better panoramic view of that interference, even though you were further away. Even if BU was doing exactly what he was supposed to do, step up and turn with and towards the ball, if the grounder is fairly close to his starting position in C and contact occurs before the ball reaches F-6 (which it sounds like it did), then his focus may still have been on the ball as well as having a moving camera.  However, interference like that on a batted ball is not a judgment call up to the sound discretion of either umpire--even if BU no calls it and you see contact, it is what it is. Automatic dead ball and an out.

 

Good call.

[johnnyg08]

I have been in this situation before as BU.  

 

I couldn't turn fast enough to see it and my partner didn't grab the interference. 

 

I will handle that situation differently now if they're burning the field down and I didn't get to see what happened.

[sthomas13100]

Maven, I just gave the readers digest version of the conversation.  My first words to him were, "SS is protected and has every right make a play on the ball, your runner has to avoid contact."  Then he went into his "no, he can take a direct path to his base."  I even got him to admit the contact.  Then he kept on this "why did you make the call, and not him?, Can you get help?  Can I go to him?" 

 

My reply, "I saw the interference and I called the interference.  I'm the calling official, I don't need help, and no you can not go to him."  This is when he proceeded onto the field and said loud enough for everyone to hear, "after the game, you need to tell your partner he screwed that one up, that was your call all the way!"

 

This is when I confined him to "umpire timeout".

 

The one thing you said, ignore his reputation is correct.  Guy deserves a clean slate each new game.  FYI, he was ejected 7 times last year and is on "double secret probation" by the association and his school board.  Most umpires have blocked him from their schedules.  Remember, I'm the rookie.

[Rich Ives]

Maven, I just gave the readers digest version of the conversation.  My first words to him were, "SS is protected and has every right make a play on the ball, your runner has to avoid contact."  Then he went into his "no, he can take a direct path to his base."  I even got him to admit the contact.  Then he kept on this "why did you make the call, and not him?, Can you get help?  Can I go to him?" 

 

My reply, "I saw the interference and I called the interference.  I'm the calling official, I don't need help, and no you can not go to him."  This is when he proceeded onto the field and said loud enough for everyone to hear, "after the game, you need to tell your partner he screwed that one up, that was your call all the way!"

 

This is when I confined him to "umpire timeout".

 

The one thing you said, ignore his reputation is correct.  Guy deserves a clean slate each new game.  FYI, he was ejected 7 times last year and is on "double secret probation" by the association and his school board.  Most umpires have blocked him from their schedules.  Remember, I'm the rookie.

 

Don't say "contact". Contact isn't required for interference.

[maven]

The one thing you said, ignore his reputation is correct.  Guy deserves a clean slate each new game.  FYI, he was ejected 7 times last year and is on "double secret probation" by the association and his school board.  Most umpires have blocked him from their schedules.  Remember, I'm the rookie.

 

Sounds like a peach. I'm not sure why jackwagons like that get 11 chances. Like 3-year-olds, unless there are consequences for their misbehavior, they'll never learn.

[James Walker]

Maven, I just gave the readers digest version of the conversation.  My first words to him were, "SS is protected and has every right make a play on the ball, your runner has to avoid contact."  Then he went into his "no, he can take a direct path to his base."  I even got him to admit the contact.  Then he kept on this "why did you make the call, and not him?, Can you get help?  Can I go to him?" 

 

My reply, "I saw the interference and I called the interference.  I'm the calling official, I don't need help, and no you can not go to him."  This is when he proceeded onto the field and said loud enough for everyone to hear, "after the game, you need to tell your partner he screwed that one up, that was your call all the way!"

 

This is when I confined him to "umpire timeout".

 

The one thing you said, ignore his reputation is correct.  Guy deserves a clean slate each new game.  FYI, he was ejected 7 times last year and is on "double secret probation" by the association and his school board.  Most umpires have blocked him from their schedules.  Remember, I'm the rookie.

IMO, restricting him to the bench here isn't enough. Not only is he trying to show you up, he's letting everyone know he doesn't think you know what you doing. Plus, technically he continued arguing after he is restricted. Time for him to get the bus warmed up.

[MidAmUmp]

You have to deal with coaches like you would a 3-year old.

 

State the facts and make sure they understand the consequences in no uncertain terms.

 

So make statements like this (your choice, but get the verbiage down) -

On the interference question:

By rule, the fielder is protected and has the opportunity to field the ball.

You're runner must allow the fielder the opportunity to field the ball, or by rule, he will be called out for interference.

 

Who's call:

Any umpire can make an interference call.

So you're saying, if he (your partner) doesn't see it, we're just supposed to ignore it? You admit your runner ran into the fielder. That's something, and one of us has to call it.

So you're admitting your runner did make contact with the fielder while he was trying to field the ball? By rule that's interference. One of us has to call it.

 

Going to your partner:

No, you cannot talk to him. This is your warning. If you talk to him you will be ejected.

[sthomas13100]

Good point MidAmUmp.  This is exactly why I came on here this morning.  Great advise and I'll be better moving forward. 

 

Thanks for advise/comments, very helpful!

[labguy1971]

Bases Loaded. That means 3 Runners and a BR. 2 Umpires.

Something will be missed along the way. But your partner should have seen this if hes following the ball to the fielder

 

If you see it call it.

 

Good call.

Agreed

[Out&UglyToo]

One more point - if there had been less than 2 outs, you could have called it a double play. "That's interference! The runner is out, and the (batter-runner or other runner) is out for the runner's interference."

 

A smart baserunner, thinking that only he will be out, would intentionally interfere to avoid a double play or even triple play. That's why the rule is there.

 

I have raised the question before, "If the batted ball is hit sharply to a fielder in a good position to make a triple play, can I call the interference a triple play?" The instructor just happened to be the state association president that year, and he responded, "That would be a difficult case to make, but I really like how you think!"

[noumpere]

I have raised the question before, "If the batted ball is hit sharply to a fielder in a good position to make a triple play, can I call the interference a triple play?" The instructor just happened to be the state association president that year, and he responded, "That would be a difficult case to make, but I really like how you think!"

 

You cannot get three outs in this situation.

[Richvee]

Bases Loaded. That means 3 Runners and a BR. 2 Umpires.

Something will be missed along the way. But your partner should have seen this if hes following the ball to the fielder

 

If you see it call it.

 

Good call.

Not necessarily.  Especially with 2 outs, runners are off with the crack of the bat. There's a real good chance the contact/hinderance of F6 occurs before BU takes his step up and turns with the ball, and by the time he turns with the ball the hinderance has already occurred. PU needs to see this and make that call.