Aaron Judge's Slide Into 2B - Was it Interference?

[Lindsay]

After Brewers shortstop Willy Adames' throw hit Yankees baserunner Aaron Judge's raised arm during a slide into second base, umpires opted against calling interference ruling the New York runner did not intentionally act to break up a double play in contravention of the rules. After the game, Crew Chief Andy Fletcher released a statement saying it was interference after all and that the call had been missed on the field. Here's what the rule says.

Official Baseball Rule 6.01(a)(10) pertains to interference and states it is interference when "[the offensive player] fails to avoid a fielder who is attempting to field a batted ball, or intentionally interferes with a thrown ball," while OBR 6.01(a)(5) which directly applies to this play states, "Any batter or runner who has just been put out, or any runner who has just scored, hinders or impedes any following play being made on a runner. Such runner shall be declared out for the interference of their teammate."

This language mirrors the definition of terms: "Offensive interference is an act by the team at bat which interferes with, obstructs, impedes, hinders or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play."

The intentionally interferes with a thrown ball phrasing appears elsewhere in the book as well (OBR 5.09(a)(13) explicitly puts the following runner out if a preceding runner interferes; while OBR 5.09(b)(3) puts a runner out for intentionally interfering with a thrown ball), but notably not in OBR 6.01(a)(5). Instead, the standard is lower—"simple" interference, whether or not it is actually intentional.

Obviously, intentional interference is always illegal and the intent of the retired runner can provide a clue as to whether said runner has violated the rule.

As for Judge, his action in deliberately raising his arm (one might even say willful and deliberate) and then dropping it into the path of the throw as the fielder threw the ball appears to constitute interference by a retired runner, an observation echoed by the acting Crew Chief for this game after the final out.

Video as follows:

Alternate Link: Judge's slide was retired runner's interference, says CC Fletcher after the game

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[RBIbaseball]

Crazy.

 

Extra innings, playoff . 7-7 tie. 1 out and R1 stealing

 

Dream double play ball taking F6 to the bag, he steps on 2B and throws to 1B as R1 is sliding directly into the base. Kid wasn't 6'7", but he had his hand in the air and F6's throw ricochet off his hand. Admittedly, the throw was probably low and maybe was going to one hop into F3.

 

Everyone screaming, I took a few seconds, then called interference and awarded 2 outs. With the pressure of the situation of course fans went crazy.

 

Head coach was a G and he just wanted an explanation. He argued that his kid was just protecting his face. I said coach, his face is down here, his hand is up here, and the only reason to have his hand extended in the air is to interfere which is what happened. He took it pretty well considering.

 

Anyways, I know it's OBR vs NHFS, but did I make the right call? This Aaron Judge play was in the forefront of my mind, and I even thought about this play for a couple seconds before making the call.

[maven]

3 hours ago, RBIbaseball said:

Anyways, I know it's OBR vs NHFS, but did I make the right call? This Aaron Judge play was in the forefront of my mind, and I even thought about this play for a couple seconds before making the call.

As described, yes.

Aaron Judge's Slide Into 2B - Was it Interference?

Also yes. One of many reasons I don't work MLB.  

[johnnyg08]

5 hours ago, RBIbaseball said:

Crazy.

 

Extra innings, playoff . 7-7 tie. 1 out and R1 stealing

 

Dream double play ball taking F6 to the bag, he steps on 2B and throws to 1B as R1 is sliding directly into the base. Kid wasn't 6'7", but he had his hand in the air and F6's throw ricochet off his hand. Admittedly, the throw was probably low and maybe was going to one hop into F3.

 

Everyone screaming, I took a few seconds, then called interference and awarded 2 outs. With the pressure of the situation of course fans went crazy.

 

Head coach was a G and he just wanted an explanation. He argued that his kid was just protecting his face. I said coach, his face is down here, his hand is up here, and the only reason to have his hand extended in the air is to interfere which is what happened. He took it pretty well considering.

 

Anyways, I know it's OBR vs NHFS, but did I make the right call? This Aaron Judge play was in the forefront of my mind, and I even thought about this play for a couple seconds before making the call.

Good call. It's probably disguised as "protecting his face" but the intent is nefarious. 

[dumbdumb]

so, what happens if the runner is "safe" at second due to the fielder being off the bag, yet he intentionally reaches up and "deflects the throw", like an NFL pass rusher, or he does an illegal slide into the fielder with a fielder who did not touch the base.

in other words a safe runner at second due to a fielder missing the bag then commits interference like this by reaching and deflecting the ball, or reaching and grabbing the arm, or slides illegally into the fielder.