Backswing INT

[Thunderheads]

Ok .... I thought backwing is just a "send the runner back" ....but ...I've never been known as a rules-guru  

[ricka56]

Batter interference (batter came out of the batter box).

[Thunderheads]

Batter interference (batter came out of the batter box).

got to be ..... I thought it was just the bat hitting Weiters ....

[stkjock]

Rule 6.03(a)(3) Comment (Rule 6.06(c) Comment): If the batter
interferes with the catcher, the plate umpire shall call “interference.”
The batter is out and the ball dead. No player may
advance on such interference (offensive interference) and all
runners must return to the last base that was, in the judgment of
the umpire, legally touched at the time of the interference.
If, however, the catcher makes a play and the runner attempting
to advance is put out, it is to be assumed there was no actual
interference and that runner is out-not the batter. Any other
runners on the base at the time may advance as the ruling is
that there is no actual interference if a runner is retired. In that
case play proceeds just as if no violation had been called.
If a batter strikes at a ball and misses and swings so hard he
carries the bat all the way around and, in the umpire’s judgment,
unintentionally hits the catcher or the ball in back of him
on the backswing, it shall be called a strike only (not interference).
The ball will be dead, however, and no runner shall
advance on the play.

Emphasis added 

[maven]

Batter interference (batter came out of the batter box).

That's what I see.

[noumpere]

Ok .... I thought backwing is just a "send the runner back" ....but ...I've never been known as a rules-guru  

 

It is.  But this wasn't.

[ElkOil]

That's what I see.

That's not what I see, he appears to be in the box and unless the follow-through contact was the issue after all?

[noumpere]

That's not what I see, he appears to be in the box and unless the follow-through contact was the issue after all?

The batter's box is not a sanctuary -- the batter can be in the box and still interfere.

[ricka56]

That's not what I see, he appears to be in the box and unless the follow-through contact was the issue after all?

He was partially out of the BB and whacked F2 with the follow-through. I know there is a lighter penalty for follow-through interference, but when both occur, I think you have to go with the BI (batter out). 

[ElkOil]

The batter's box is not a sanctuary -- the batter can be in the box and still interfere.

Roger that.  I just saw something different than @ricka56 and @maven.  What I didn't see was anything actionable except the follow-through contact.  But to Rick's point, if he's out of the box, I get it.

[ScubaUmp]

Batter's INT,  not backswing INT

Backswing is a recent FED change prior to the pitch batter reaches back and touches the mitt, or catcher. "TIME" that's nothing. Gotta love FED.

Now back to baseball, SPOT ON CALL!

Cash being a former catcher, I can't imagine what the second confernce was about. But, I'll take stab at the 2nd conversation from the color guys comment "wait a minute, looks like there questing the count" - Cash: what was the count b4 the pitch?  Scott; 1-0 Cash: he can't be out it has to be 2 strikes for him to be out. Scott: That's myth, if it were 2 strikes, batter would be the 2nd out on strike three and the runner would be the 3rd out for the INT, and I would be taking a sip of water. 

[lawump]

Both FED and OBR have backswing interference, but they are two different things.

FED groups "backswing interference" with "follow-through interference" . OBR groups "backswing interference" with "return toss interference".  When I say "groups" I am stating that they can be found in the same rule or same section of the umpire's manual.

In FED, as pointed out above, backswing interference occurs when a batter while taking some warm-up swings prior to the pitch being delivered makes accidental contact with the catcher's glove.  The ball is dead, there is no additional penalty and everyone just "resets".  Rule 2-21-5.  OBR has this same rule in the umpire's manual but it is not called "backswing interference".  In fact, OBR doesn't call it by any name.  OBR just says to call "time" if the batter makes contact with the catcher prior to the pitch while taking warm-up swings.

In FED, "follow-through interference" occurs when a batter strikes F2 with his bat on his follow-through.  Rule 2-21-4.  FED treats this exactly the same as any other type of batter interference.  Thus, on a steal of second, if the runner is retired on F2's throw then the follow-through interference is ignored.  If not, the batter is out and R1 is returned to first.  If the batter had two strikes and commits "follow-through interference," (such that the batter has struck out), the umpire MAY get a double-play (call R1 out) if the umpire believed a double-play was possible.

In OBR, "backswing interference" is similar to FED's "follow-through interference" in definition, but not penalty.  The difference is in the penalty in that the ball is just dead (and no runners can advance) on OBR's backswing interference.  No one is called "out".  In other words, the backswing interference is not treated like any other type of batter's interference.  This rule was, of course, posted above in this thread.

In OBR, the umpire's manual also groups "return toss interference" with "backswing interference".  If F2's return of the ball to the pitcher (after catching a pitch) strikes a batter who has walked out of the batter's box (where F2 was clearly NOT trying to throw to a base to make a play against a runner and the batter was clearly NOT intentionally trying to interfere) then the ball is dead and no runners can advance.  If F2's return toss to F1 strikes a batter who has remained within the batter's box...then that is something different entirely.

Edited September 23, 2015 by lawump

[lawump]

BTW...in the OP, I think it was batter's interference, not backswing interference.  In watching the video, the very first view of the play (from the CF camera) clearly shows the batter's back foot and leg come significantly out of the batter's box.

[jpperez14]

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I would say here is a example of backswing interference rather than batter's inteference. 

Posted on here to avoid adding another topic page...