It is not our job to judge intent.
We cannot know what the defensive player is thinking. How do we KNOW that a catcher is really going to throw to retire the batter/runner? How do we read their minds?
WHAT IF we have a runner at third, or runners at second and third, less than 2 outs, tie game, bottom of the seventh, visitors lead by one. Is the catcher going to throw to retire the batter/runner...or is the defense better served by allowing her to reach first, setting up a force situation.
With deference to my mother, who passed down neither her mind reading nor the eyes in the back of her head, we don't know. We CAN'T know. Maybe they were just feinting a throw. A certain play that you just KNOW is interference at 16A is an unknowable phenomenon at 12B.
IMHO, we not only cannot guess (yes, that is a double negative
), we
shall not guess. Yes, shall not. Not shouldn't or it's a bad idea. Shall not guess. Don't do it. Coaches can plead and parents can whine and whatever...and who cares.