[DG]

Originally Posted by mcrowder

Someone needs to tell umpires early in their career, and every year thereafter, that MOST umpires will never have to use 9.01c. The rules are pretty comprehensive. 9.01c is for the completely unforseen. Consider the OP ... don't you think that the rulesmakers could forsee a runner carrying the bat to first? Don't you think that if they wanted an out for this, they would have put it in the rules?

My one 9.01c situation. High pop up, not sure who is going to catch it, if anyone - between F4 and F9. I hear the crowd behind me go "OOOOOoooo!!!" and don't know why. Then BU stops in his tracks and beelines it for the 1BCoach's box ... again, I don't know why. I'm still watching the fly ball, when all of a sudden blocking my view is a parachutist! He lands somewhere near where the ball was going.

Now THAT's a 9.01c situation.

Stop using the rule as a crutch.

Fan interference.