Quote:
Originally posted by bossman72
What if say the RH batter, after the pitch comes in, takes one foot and puts it outside the box- in the same manner that he takes his signs from the coach- and gets in the way of the catcher. Would this be interference? I've seen it happen a few times this year and have called nothing. What say you?
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Any action on the part of the batter that hinders the catcher's attempt to make a play on a runner should be called batter's interference
unless that movement is associated with ...
(1) his attempt to offer at the pitch (not including his follow through with his bat)
(2) His attempt to avoid being hit by the pitch
The "action" of stepping out of the batter's box in the manner you describe is not associated with either (1) or (2). Therefore, it's batter's interference. The intent of the batter is not a factor.
It should be emphasized that this criteria applies only to bang-bang, immediately-after-the-pitch kind of plays where the batter cannot reasonably be expected to vacate his rightful place in the batter's box.
In other instances, the batter's box is not to be considered a sanctuary. The batter can be guilty of interference by loitering in the batter's box when he had plenty of time to vacate the area. A good example of this is when R3 attempts to score on a wild pitch. The batter should vacate the area and not interfere with the catcher's toss to the pitcher covering the plate. If, by remaining in the batter's box, he hinders the attempt to retire R3, it is interference and R3 would be called out for his teammate's interference (unless there were 2 outs in which case the
batter would be called out.)
David Emerling
Memphis, TN