Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert E. Harrison
OBR, R1, batters hits grounder towards F4. As F4 is charging, the ball stops in the tall grass and F4 stops in the path of R1 and a collision occurs. The ball is 5 yards in front of F4 as R1 crashes into F4. Is this offensive interference or did F4 give up and is F4 not protected on this play?
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Could be either, depending on whether the umpire judges the fielder to be protected and in the act of fielding. Here's how J/R defines it, and whil I agree it's correct, I'm not sure it's complete:
(a) A fielder is "trying to field" (or "in the act of fielding") a ball when
(i) he is positioning himself for the purpose of trying to glove
a rapidly approaching ball, or
(ii) he is actually gloving the ball, or has gloved the ball and,
without having to take steps, is trying to gain possession of
the ball, or
(iii) he is actually throwing the ball, or completing his throwing
motion after throwing the ball ("following through").