[wadeintothem]

I'll take a shot just for my own help and testing.. but there will be other umps who have far more experience who may correct me or provide more info. This will take time to work through so they may even respond while i'm responding...

Originally posted by oregonjack
Pursuant to ASA rules,what's the call and nuances/discretion, if any, of the umpire? Runner at second, batter lunges forward to swing with front foot momentarily steppping out of batter's box into "fair territory".

Ok - no contact.. no penalty on the swing...

Runner steals third, catcher attempts throw, runner beats throw with such throw unimpeded by catcher; intially called safe by umpire.

Ok I dont really know what this means. Unimpeded by catcher? Or throw unimpeded by batter?

A batter may not INTENTIONALLY interfere with a catcher by staying in the box, and may not step out of the box to get in the cathers way. Intention is key when the batter is in the box.

If it happens - Dead Ball Batter out Runners Return

Opposing coach argues with Umpire alledging "batter interference" by sole virtue that batter had stepped our of batter's box (ie, one foot).

Without seeing it.. running blind.. you said he stepped out momentarily while swinging and missing at the pitch.

I would say no dice coach.

Umpire reverses call, calls batter out. After discussion with both coaches, Umpire now calls runner out and "recalls" batter from dugout to resume batting.

Bad Call IMO.. at most.. with intentional interference - batter out.. runners returned.

Questions Preface: I understand that IF there is batter interference, the runner (s?) is out as they should not be advantaged from the batter's interference.

No, the intereference is on the BATTER. The punitive punishement against the batter is he is out. To remove the advantage, the runners are returned.

Questions: 1. If a batter steps out of the batter's box when the catcher is attempting a throw on an attempted stolen base, is the runner AUTOMATICALLY out, regardless of whether the batter impeded the catcher's throw?

This is different than how I read your question. It seems to say he stepped out momentarily on a swing (which missed). The batter may step completely out of the box on any play.. as opposed to when they are taking calls. They cannot intentionally step out of the box into the way of the catcher making a play.

2. Assuming that "stepping out" is an automatic out,

It is not. Only if the ball makes contact with the bat.

does it matter "which way" a batter steps out, ie, into fair or foul territory?

The rule concerning batters is the batters box.

Said differently, is any attempted throw by a catcher at a stealing runner an automatic out if the batter has a foot outside the batter's box.

No, as explained above.

3. Is there any discretion by the umpire?

Of course there is.. especially when determining intent.

3. If an umpire reverses his initial decision (calling the runner safe), then calls the batter out, then reverses and calls the runner out, under ASA rules, is there an appeal process?

The appeal process, which I am not an expert on, but mike is, would likely involved calling the runner out instead of the batter if the interference was upheld at all.. but not sure there.

For all of those who had the patience to read all this and opine, thanks. Any citations to the ASA rules would be appreciated.

Read ASA Rule 7 re batting. all of it. It's all important

In the unlikely event any of you found this interesting, I have several equally esoteric rule questions. - Oregonjack

np.. I've learned allot on this board from reading, answering, being wrong, etc..

[Edited by wadeintothem on Apr 21st, 2004 at 01:17 AM]