[PeteBooth]

Originally posted by dave

Please help me with an official baseball rule on this situation.--R1 on second, batter at the plate. R1 attempts to steal and batter standing in the batter box makes no attempt to move in any way out of the catcher's way to make a throw to 3rd to get R1 out. Ball is thrown over 3rd baseman's head and R1 continues to home to score. Is there a rule for batters interferance of the catcher attempting to make an out on the batter stealing. Must the batter in the umpires opinion at least make an attempt to get out of the way of the play to 3rd. Please supply MLB rule number if possible.

Dave as far as rule references and autoritative opinion check out Garth's post.

Let's take a look at this from a baseball perspective only and you will see how the rules fit into this

As a batter you have a right to be in the box and swing or bunt at any pitch you want as long as you keep both feet within the lines defining the box.

When r1 steals third and F2 throws to F5, this all happens in a heartbeat. B1 is not supposed to make F2's job easier.
He / she cannot be expected to simply vanish.

On these type plays unless B1 does something out of the oridinary like waving his bat up and down or Purposely Move to get in F2's way it's nothing.

Here's a FED case play which best illustrates your question.

FED case play 7.3.5E

Less than 2 outs. R2, B1 at the plate. R2 attempts to steal third. In the process B1, who bats right-handed, after swinging or not swinging at the pitch (a) makes no attempt to get out of the way of F2 throwing to third or (b) is unable to make an attempt to get out of the way of F2 throwing to third. As a result, F2 cannot make a play on the runner. Is B1 out for interference?

RULING: B1 IS NOT GUILTY of interference in (a) or (b). B1 is entitled to his position in the batter's box and is not subject to being penalized for interference unless he moves or re-establishes his position after F2 has received the pitch, which then prevents F2 from attempting to play on a runner. Failing to move so F2 can make a throw is not batter interference.

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