Quote:
Originally posted by Stair-Climber
Thanks--looks like I missed that call. However, when you make that interfence call and call batter out and put R1 back on 2B, you are going to catch wholly you know what from the coach. At least with my no call on that play, no one complained. Anyway, how would you handle that situation if you (plate umpire) felt that there was no chance of F2 making the throw in time to 3B to get R1? Throw goes bad and R1 comes home. Would you call B2 out for interference and put R1 back on 3B instead of 2B?
Different situation: What about R1 on 3B and a passed ball to backstop? With R1 coming home, isn't B2 required to vacate the batter's box area in order to get out of way on the play at home plate?
I can think of a lot of different scenarios regarding the batter, the catcher, the base runner stealing and a passed ball or wild pitch. Shouldn't we look at each situation separately and rule according to what makes sense?
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Of course we can think of lots of scenarios; let's address yours.
First, the ball is dead at the time of interference; so, no matter that the runner might have likely reached 3B, the runner must return to the last base legally touched while the ball is live. The only time we would give the runner 3B is if the runner had already touched 3B before the throw was attempted (say, took too big a turn).
Your second play, a play at the plate, is a different rule completely, but a similar result. If a batter interferes with a play at the plate, either in or out of the box, and either intentionally or unintentionally, the batter is out and runner must return (ASA 7-6.P(3)). The batter must find a place to go which does not interfere.
Of course we review each play and rule with what makes sense. But, those rulings still must follow the written rules of the game. There are times I feel that someone is in a no-win situation, that they did everything they could, but still violated a rule. Our job is to enforce those rules, as written, and as interpreted by the ASA National Umpire Staff; even in those cases. We don't make the rules; we enforce them.