runner interference

[Guest Bruce]

Is it runner interference if a runner yells at a catcher when there is a play at the plate?

[Rich Ives]

8 minutes ago, Guest Bruce said:

Is it runner interference if a runner yells at a catcher when there is a play at the plate?

I'm sure someone somewhere thinks it should be.

Do you want a catcher that would be distracted by a yell from a runner?

[Tborze]

I'm sure some rule somewhere says it could be unsportsmanlike conduct

[Senor Azul]

Under OBR, interference may not be a verbal act. But under NCAA and FED rules, interference can include a verbal act.

2018 NFHS rule 2 SECTION 21 INTERFERENCE — OFFENSIVE, UMPIRE, SPECTATOR

ART. 1 . . . Offensive interference is an act (physical or verbal) by the team at bat:

a.                which interferes with, obstructs, impedes, hinders or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play; or…

2018 NCAA rule 2

Interference

SECTION 51. The act of an offensive player, umpire or nongame person who interferes with; physically or verbally hinders; confuses; or impedes any fielder attempting to make a play.

[maven]

It depends also on what he yelled, when he yelled, and how he yelled.

[noumpere]

2 hours ago, Senor Azul said:

Under OBR, interference may not be a verbal act. But under NCAA and FED rules, interference can include a verbal act.

 

True under "pure" OBR, played by grown men,

 

At youth games played under OBR, I'm using the FED and NCAA interp.

[Senor Azul]

Mr. maven, I don’t think it has anything to do with how or what the runner yells as illustrated in the following case book play. I think it only matters that there was an effect on the defender i.e., the yelling hinders, confuses, or impedes the defender.

2019 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.

[Rich Ives]

Do you want a catcher that would be distracted by a yell from a runner?

 

[beerguy55]

On 5/19/2019 at 7:12 PM, Senor Azul said:

Mr. maven, I don’t think it has anything to do with how or what the runner yells as illustrated in the following case book play. I think it only matters that there was an effect on the defender i.e., the yelling hinders, confuses, or impedes the defender.

Yes and no.   Maven is right, because those three things will determine if the catcher gets hindered or confused.   And I think as an umpire you can use the how, when, what he yelled to determine if a catcher "should have been" distracted (or is it an act).  If R2 yelled as he was rounding third base, on his way to the plate, the catcher claiming to have been distracted 90 feet later, even if he puts on a good act, could probably be dismissed.

As well, if the runner yells something that would fit MC it wouldn't matter if the catcher was distracted, no?  Or is that only an ejection, not an out?

[Replacematt]

2 hours ago, beerguy55 said:

Yes and no.   Maven is right, because those three things will determine if the catcher gets hindered or confused.   And I think as an umpire you can use the how, when, what he yelled to determine if a catcher "should have been" distracted (or is it an act).  If R2 yelled as he was rounding third base, on his way to the plate, the catcher claiming to have been distracted 90 feet later, even if he puts on a good act, could probably be dismissed.

As well, if the runner yells something that would fit MC it wouldn't matter if the catcher was distracted, no?  Or is that only an ejection, not an out?

How can you yell something that would be MC? It, by definition, involves contact.

[beerguy55]

2 minutes ago, Matt said:

How can you yell something that would be MC? It, by definition, involves contact.

Malicious Contact or Conduct, no?  That's what I was asking...yelling "your mother is a whore" as  you're running by the catcher would be ejectable (I assume) but wouldn't be an out, would it?

[Replacematt]

1 minute ago, beerguy55 said:

Malicious Contact or Conduct, no?  That's what I was asking...yelling "your mother is a whore" as  you're running by the catcher would be ejectable (I assume) but wouldn't be an out, would it?

MC is just malicious contact. Yelling something like that would be unsportsmanlike conduct--warning or ejection, but no out.

[yawetag]

16 hours ago, Matt said:

MC is just malicious contact. Yelling something like that would be unsportsmanlike conduct--warning or ejection, but no out.

It *could* be interference in FED or NCAA (see @Senor Azul's post above). And interference is an out.

[Replacematt]

5 hours ago, yawetag said:

It *could* be interference in FED or NCAA (see @Senor Azul's post above). And interference is an out.

That's not what he asked, though. He was asking regardless of the fielder being distracted.