Interference?

[tankmjg24]

HS game so FED Rules.  R1, R2, and R3.  F1 is working out of the windup and R3 breaks for the plate.  The batter attempts to bunt but misses.  F2 catches the ball and goes forward to tag out the runner and makes contact with the batter.  So the question is, is this interference?  So, if it is interference, do runners return to their TOP base and who do you call out?  I am somewhat leaving this a bit vague to get responses first.  Thanks 

[ricka56]

Whether there is BI depends on what the umpire sees (vague questions begets vague answers). If there is BI, the runner on 3B is out, unless there are 2 outs, in that case the batter is out and the run does not score. .

[jkumpire]

Is the batter in the box? Does he do anything intentional to hinder F2's attempt to tag the runner? If it is a legal pitch the batter has a right to attempt to hit the ball, he does not have the right to move in some way to hinder or stop F2 from catching the pitch and making a play on R3.  You have eyes, you have studied the rules, you know by experience what interference is, your judgement rules.  If you are missing one of those three things (experience, knowledge, or good judgement) make the best call you can and learn form it.

[BillKen]

In short...you probably don't have BI unless the batter did something obvious to gain an advantage.  It sounds like they had a real squeeze play on and by him missing the ball, he knows that the runner is in jeopardy.  If its high level ball, the batter might do something to create a disruption.  But if we are talking lower levels, the batter is probably focused on his own problem of not hitting the ball and is most likely not guilty of interference.  It is your call.

I've always said that if a coach really understood all that we have to process on a squeeze play, they'd never do it!  Assuming the batter misses the bunt...we have a play with 1 and maybe 2 players between us and the plate, we have to judge a pitch location and an attempted bunt, and we have fractions of a second to deal with it all!

[maineump]

Remember to call the pitch first, then the play

[maven]

The batter's rights: he may offer at the pitch, he may be in the box immediately after the pitch.

The batter's responsibilities: he may not both leave the box AND hinder F2, or make any other motion that hinders F2, and if he has the opportunity to vacate the space needed by the defense (say, on a delayed steal), then he must do so. Violations involving hindrance yield batter INT: in this case (R3 stealing), with less than 2 outs, R3 is out, otherwise, the batter is out for INT (if the pitch was strike 3, you get 2 outs here).

The catcher's rights: he may field the pitch and play on R3 stealing.

The catcher's responsibilities: he may not field the pitch above or in front of the plate in order to play on R3 stealing. Violations yield catcher OBS (no swing required): any runners stealing on the play are awarded their advance base, and the batter is awarded 1B.

If B and F2 were within their rights and responsibilities, any contact on this play is incidental.

[noumpere]

HS game so FED Rules.  R1, R2, and R3.  F1 is working out of the windup and R3 breaks for the plate.  The batter attempts to bunt but misses.  F2 catches the ball and goes forward to tag out the runner and makes contact with the batter.  So the question is, is this interference?  So, if it is interference, do runners return to their TOP base and who do you call out?  I am somewhat leaving this a bit vague to get responses first.  Thanks

​I agree with Maven's post, but this wasn't addressed.

 

In FED, runners return TOI.  In OBR, runners return TOP.  99% of the time that's the same answer, and unless you're 110% sure the runner had already advanced, put them back in FED.

[tankmjg24]

So here is the full story.  Batter misses on the bunt attempt, he is still within the box, but his front foot is on the inside white line of the batter's box near the front of the box.  F2 catches the pitch then goes forward to tag out the advancing R3, in the process he runs into the batter.  The batter never moved and kind of braced himself for the collision from F2, and F2 ended up being knocked sideways and never made it to the advancing R3 as he slid in front of the batter.  If the batter is not there, R3 is out easily.  I point that the batter attempted at the pitch and signaled a strike, then called time and ruled out R3 on the interference, then moved back R2 and R1 to their starting bases.  Coach is not happy, but after I calm him down and explain the call he calms down and the game continues.  

[ricka56]

Even with the add'nal info, there still is no way to tell if B interfered. B has to get out of the way, if he has the chance to, but if he doesn't have the chance to, he isn't required to disappear once the pitch has passed him...HTBT.

[maven]

From what you say, I have the batter in the box, not making any other movement to hinder F2. What did you see that you judged to be illegal action by the batter? His merely being there ("If the batter is not there, R3 is out easily") is not illegal.

[ZebraStripes]

So here is the full story.  Batter misses on the bunt attempt, he is still within the box, but his front foot is on the inside white line of the batter's box near the front of the box.  F2 catches the pitch then goes forward to tag out the advancing R3, in the process he runs into the batter.  The batter never moved and kind of braced himself for the collision from F2, and F2 ended up being knocked sideways and never made it to the advancing R3 as he slid in front of the batter.  If the batter is not there, R3 is out easily.  I point that the batter attempted at the pitch and signaled a strike, then called time and ruled out R3 on the interference, then moved back R2 and R1 to their starting bases.  Coach is not happy, but after I calm him down and explain the call he calms down and the game continues.  

​His foot is on the line, so he is in the batter box.  No interference.

[jkumpire]

As our good friend Jim Evans says about some plays you see in a game "You just can't make the player disappear".  No interference as described, if that's the call you made, good job!