Quote:
From everyone's standpoint(umpire, player, coach and fan) wouldn't it simply be easier if an umpire says interference happens and this is the procedure:
1 Time
2 Call interference
3 player who caused interference is out and possibly 2nd out if intentional
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No it wouldn't. Let's take Catcher's Interference. Catcher's interference is a delayed dead situation and for good reason. Suppose F2 interferes with B1 but B1 hits one out of the park, why should the ball be dead at that point? The offense has the option to accept the play or penalty.
The reason there are different sets of rules for the batter and runner make perfect sense. The reason the ball is Immediately dead concerning runners is simple. If not the game would resemble a farce.
Let's say we have a tie game in the bottom of seven. Runners on second/third. Ground ball to F6. R2 sees that his teammate R3 will be a dead duck at home. If interference was not an immediate dead ball, R2 would purposely interfere with F6 so that his teammate could score the winning run.
We all know there are errors in the OBR rule book but the point is one needs to study them to get a full understanding as to why they exist.
Pete Booth