catcher interference????

[Guest Bob H]

a catcher calls a pitchout..........the pitcher delivers the pitch......the batter..in order to protect the runner......tries to swing at the pitch......the batter steps on home plate in this attempt ...and then makes contact with the catchers glove.....it is obvious the batter steps on the plate before contact with the glove....what is the call..........1) batter is out stepping on the plate in an attempt to swing....or 2) catcher interference?????????

[maven]

First: stepping on the plate and swinging is nothing unless the batter contacts the ball, fair, foul, or foul tip. Then it's an illegally batted ball (there is a small rules difference here: one code has the batter legal if any part of his foot is touching the box).

I don't have my books handy, but in general, most codes enforce the penalties for double infractions (at least 1 per team) in the order of occurrence. In this case, we'd penalize the CO/CI first, allowing stealing runners to keep their advance base. If the batter has illegally batted the ball, then he's out for that; I would not advance non-stealing runners in that instance.

[Rich Ives]

17 minutes ago, Guest Bob H said:

a catcher calls a pitchout..........the pitcher delivers the pitch......the batter..in order to protect the runner......tries to swing at the pitch......the batter steps on home plate in this attempt ...and then makes contact with the catchers glove.....it is obvious the batter steps on the plate before contact with the glove....what is the call..........1) batter is out stepping on the plate in an attempt to swing....or 2) catcher interference?????????

There's no penalty for stepping on the plate in an attempt to swing. Only if he contacts the ball.

So the only infraction here is the CI.

[Senor Azul]

Our guest, Bob H, did not specify which rule set governed his scenario. So, if his game was played under FED rules here is a case play that might help a bit--

FED Case Book play 5.1.1 Situation F:  With R1, B2 steps out of batter’s box and then (a) swings at a pitch but misses or (b) hits a foul or a fair ball. RULING:  There is no infraction in (a), unless B2 interferes with a throw by F2. In (b), B2 is out as in 7-3-2 and R1 returns to first.

[ElkOil]

19 minutes ago, Senor Azul said:

Our guest, Bob H, did not specify which rule set governed his scenario. So, if his game was played under FED rules here is a case play that might help a bit--

FED Case Book play 5.1.1 Situation F:  With R1, B2 steps out of batter’s box and then (a) swings at a pitch but misses or (b) hits a foul or a fair ball. RULING:  There is no infraction in (a), unless B2 interferes with a throw by F2. In (b), B2 is out as in 7-3-2 and R1 returns to first.

Would there be an infraction on the batter for contacting F2? I have a hard time seeing it as catcher obstruction if the batter is out of the box.

[blue23ll]

1 hour ago, ElkOil said:

Would there be an infraction on the batter for contacting F2? I have a hard time seeing it as catcher obstruction if the batter is out of the box.

I agree with this, if the batter is reaching across the plate to try to hit a pitch out that seems like he is trying to affect the catcher's throw. I don't see how this could be considered obstruction on the F2...

[noumpere]

This is from some old version of J/R:

However, it is not catcher's interference if the batter
(1) steps outside the batter's box and he or his bat strikes the catcher.
(2) throws his bat at, and strikes, the catcher.
(3) uses his bat to intentionally strike the catcher on foul territory (tries to hit the
catcher versus the pitch).
(4) swings, but does not strike the catcher, who is on foul territory.
(5) completely gives up his opportunity to swing or bunt at a pitch.
(6) accidentally strikes the catcher with his bat during a practice swing while the
pitcher prepares to pitch.
E.G.: R3, suicide squeeze. The defense pitches a pitchout but the batter still tries to
bunt, stepping across home plate and contacting the catcher with his bat.
E.G.: R1, hit and run. The defense pitches a pitchout, prompting the batter to throw
his bat, which strikes the catcher.
E.G.: R3 , stealing. The batter takes two or three steps backward during the pitch.
Catcher's interference is no longer possible.