Verbal Interference

[ARK1215]

I’m a new ump with less than 100 games under my belt. All my work has been in youth house leagues for various park districts around me. 

During a 14U rec game the other night a batter pops a ball into foul territory about 10 feet in front of first base. The ball was only foul by about 5 feet. The batter, seeing the first basemen is going to have an easy play, screams as he’s running to first causing the defender to break his concentration and hesitate. The first basemen drops the ball. The scream was clearly intentional with the goal of causing the defender to drop the ball. I ruled verbal interference and called the kid out. 

We use FED rules which clearly mention verbal interference but it doesn’t elaborate. All the cases I’ve seen involve actual words spoken to confuse the defender not just screaming.

What are your thoughts? Anyone have a similar situation?

 

[Senor Azul]

2018 NFHS Case Book play 2.21.1 Situation A:  With R2, B2 hits a grounder to F6. Just as F6 starts to throw to first base, R2 on his way to third base, yells at F6, which startles F6, causing him to throw the ball over F3’s head into dead-ball territory. RULING:  R2 is called out immediately for verbal interference, and if in the judgment of the umpire the interference prevented a possible double play, B2 also would be called out.

From the 2016 Baseball Rule Differences  by Carl Childress (section 281, p. 183):

B1 pops up in foul territory between home and first. The ball drifts slightly foul as the first baseman sets up to make the catch. B1, as he passes the fielder, yells: “Drop it!” The first baseman is clearly startled and drops the ball. Ruling:  In FED/NCAA, B1 is out. In OBR, it’s simply a foul ball.

Yankees v Blue Jays, 2 outs, Alex Rodriguez on second. B1 pops up between short and third. As A-Rod runs between fielders, he yells at them. The ball falls to the ground. Ruling:  In FED/NCAA, A-Rod is out. In OBR, there is no interference.

 

[noumpere]

5 hours ago, ARK1215 said:

I’m a new ump with less than 100 games under my belt. All my work has been in youth house leagues for various park districts around me. 

During a 14U rec game the other night a batter pops a ball into foul territory about 10 feet in front of first base. The ball was only foul by about 5 feet. The batter, seeing the first basemen is going to have an easy play, screams as he’s running to first causing the defender to break his concentration and hesitate. The first basemen drops the ball. The scream was clearly intentional with the goal of causing the defender to drop the ball. I ruled verbal interference and called the kid out. 

We use FED rules which clearly mention verbal interference but it doesn’t elaborate. All the cases I’ve seen involve actual words spoken to confuse the defender not just screaming.

What are your thoughts? Anyone have a similar situation?

 

I agree that this does NOT meet the strict (traditional) English sense of "verbal interference" because it did not involve words.  But, FED (and other codes) really mean "oral interference" (or perhaps, "aural interference" -- HA!) -- so in a baseball game, get the out.

 

(My guess is that the rules makers were too embarrassed to write "oral interference.")

[ARK1215]

Thanks. I did read that 2018 case. I guess I was looking for something more like the specific situation involving the batter. I appreciate you taking the time to help me out. 

[johnnyg08]

19 minutes ago, ARK1215 said:

Thanks. I did read that 2018 case. I guess I was looking for something more like the specific situation involving the batter. I appreciate you taking the time to help me out. 

Runner, player, etc...there are not specific case plays for every person authorized to be on the field. 

If the case play involves F5, that doesn't mean it doesn't apply to F6 or F4 especially in scenarios like the one you mention...and if a coach is asking you to "You'll have to show me that in the book" tell him/her to pound sand.

Good job.

[ARK1215]

11 hours ago, johnnyg08 said:

Runner, player, etc...there are not specific case plays for every person authorized to be on the field. 

If the case play involves F5, that doesn't mean it doesn't apply to F6 or F4 especially in scenarios like the one you mention...and if a coach is asking you to "You'll have to show me that in the book" tell him/her to pound sand.

Good job.

Thanks for the info. 

[ARK1215]

14 hours ago, noumpere said:

I agree that this does NOT meet the strict (traditional) English sense of "verbal interference" because it did not involve words.  But, FED (and other codes) really mean "oral interference" (or perhaps, "aural interference" -- HA!) -- so in a baseball game, get the out.

 

(My guess is that the rules makers were too embarrassed to write "oral interference.")

Good points. I interpreted the rule that way as well. 

[beerguy55]

On 5/10/2018 at 1:23 AM, Senor Azul said:

Yankees v Blue Jays, 2 outs, Alex Rodriguez on second. B1 pops up between short and third. As A-Rod runs between fielders, he yells at them. The ball falls to the ground. Ruling:  In FED/NCAA, A-Rod is out. In OBR, there is no interference.

Personally, I'd like to see this more differentiated between pro/am, rather than OBR/FED.

In any amateur setting, I want this called - if for no other reason but safety.  I expect the pros to be able to deal with this.