Interference or Nothing?

[tankmjg24]

High school varsity (FED rules).  R1 with 1 out (do not think this matters though).  Batter hits a short fly ball about 10 feet in front of home plate.  Catcher goes to make an attempt for the catch while the pitcher does not make an attempt to field the ball.  When the catcher goes forward he makes contact (initiated by the catcher) with the batter who has just started to run towards first (he has one foot in the box and the other in front of home plate).  The catcher just makes it to the ball and as it is coming down it hits his catcher's mitt and falls to the ground uncaught. 

[maven]

That's tangle/untangle, based on your description, and it's nothing. There's a case play to the same effect.

[labguy1971]

Agree with Maven.

[Mad Mike]

I would want to know if there was any hesitation on the part of the batter? If he hesitates and does not immediately leave the box to do what he is supposed to do (i.e., run to first), then you could have interference on this play. Here is a video of Gonzales fouling off a pitch, he does not take off running and Posey brushes him while moving to make the catch. The umpire immediately calls interference and calls out Gonzales.

 

http://m.mlb.com/video/v32137095/?query=batter%2Binterference

 

 

 

Here is batted ball with similar results. Cueto bunts, but delays coming out of the box (probably admiring his bunt); however, due to the delay, there is contact between Cueto and the catcher. The umpire calls him out for interference.

 

http://m.mlb.com/video/v32120611/?query=cueto%2Bbatter%2Binterference

[MooseLoop]

Provided BR did not hesitate unduly before starting to run.

[Mad Mike]

Looks like the video is not available. 

 

Goto MLB.com and search batter interference gonzales and batter interference cueto.

[maven]

You're using the wrong links. Post the links the link from your web browser while you're viewing the video (m.mlb.com/video/v#######, with about 8 digits),  not the one that mlb provides in the "link" button.

 

http://m.mlb.com/video/v32137095

 

http://m.mlb.com/video/v32120611