Chaos at the Plate

[LaskoFan]

Kind of a crazy situation at the plate last night.  I am PU, R3 with one out.  Squeeze play is in progress.  However, R3 gets a great jump as pitcher is not pitching from the stretch.  Everything pretty much meets at the same time at the plate - ball, batter squaring to bunt, and R3.  Pitch was a bit high and catcher elevates to get the pitch and at the same time start moving to make a tag.  I get blocked by his actions.  Next thing I know ball is behind me as it was deflected.  I assumed catcher did not come up with it clean and thought I heard it deflect off his glove.  R3, scores and I call nothing as I feel that all have the right to their space.  DC wants batter interference as he feels batter should get out of the way as all merged at the same time.

BU helps me out as he saw a foul ball.  Rule foul and send R3 back and strike on batter.  OC complains and states that really what happen is that catcher interfered with batter when trying to bunt and thus R3 should be awarded home.  Again, I was blocked by the catcher.  BU did not see it this way and thus we keep it as a dead ball foul.  

As this is my first year umping (5th time behind the plate), I would like some of your thoughts on a few things and anything that you can provide in order to get better.

First, is my thought correct in that the batter has every right to stay in place try and complete his task which is to put down the bunt?  The weird thing about this situation was how far R3 got to the plate during the squeeze action.  It was pretty much a straight steal of home.  Does this matter at all in terms of what the batter must do and his location requirements?

I assume that you in fact can have catcher interference on this play.  If correct, what is the correct call?  Does the batter get first and R3 get home.  

Thanks in advance for your review and reply.

     

[noumpere]

Yes, the batter has the right to try to bat the pitch.  R3's specific location doesn't have much to do with it.  And CI is a distinct possibility -- with the offense getting the choice of the play (foul ball) or the penalty (batter to first, R3 scores).

 

(Note that if we change a thing or two about the play, then maybe the responsibilities / rulings are different).

[maven]

A steal of HP with a pitch is about the most difficult play in baseball for a PU, at any level. Don't feel bad about this or about getting screened: not much to be done.

[Mudisfun]

As @maven stated this is a really tough play; tons of fun happening all at once. You have your responsibilities to watch the pitch and make a determination on the pitch just to start. Then after all of that you have the explosion to deal with. 

Best part of this in your story is you had a partner to confer with and one who apparently was paying attention! It sounds like you and your partner got it right so good job. Think about this in a solo situation and how different your call would have been without that partner when all you can go on is what you see/hear especially when blocked out at the last moment.