[WhatWuzThatBlue]

Lesson 5: In fact, the catcher was facing third base after BALL FOUR and HE did not see the flying bat unintentionally blocked HIS vision as he threw the ball into the bat in the play in question. "I've got nothing" and will allow the play live on.

Uh, which side are you arguing again? If the catcher has a bat interfere with his throw, intentionally or unintentionally, most sane umpires penalize the batter. Interference does not have to involve contact - if it alters the catcher's ability to complete the play, it is and always has been INTEREFERENCE ON THE BATTER.

I have been at this an awfully long time and cannot ever recall an umpire saying, "I've got nothing." while a ball is live. I have witnessed and been part of dozens of batter interference calls. All involved the batter doing something to alter the catcher's actions - contact or not.

The NCAA clarified a batter inteference rule this year. Fed allows even greater latitude to penalize the offense. In professional rules, we are asked to judge intent and I've maintained that on teh play theat was originally described - not the inventions of a few desperate members - that the batter clearly had a choice and his actions directly caused the interference. He stood there, could clearly see the runner stealing and tossed the bat in front of the catcher. If you don't call interference on that, it is because you cannot judge that the batter acted recklessly and illegally. I'm glad you don't work my games, because I would be sore from carrying you all day. The good thing is that the coaches and league would make sure that I only had to do it once. You would have to watch the action from the stands in the future. We have consequences for poor umpiring in college ball.