Quote:
Originally Posted by Dakota
The definitions support the call of interference, assuming attempting to field a batted ball (not necessarily fair) can be construed as attempting to make a play. What the rules do not support is declaring the batter/batter-runner out.
This is obviously a hole in the rules. The umpire must make a call of some kind or ignore the contact.
Rule 10 allows the umpire to make a reasonable call, but he should not make up a new rule out of whole cloth.
If the runner had contacted the ball instead of the fielder, it would have been a foul ball.
If the fielder had been successful in fielding the ball while still in foul territory, it would have been a foul ball.
The fielder was not given the opportunity to field the ball while in the playing field.
Stringing all of that together, I am still with the dead ball on the interference, no one out since the ball was foul. Rule 10.
|
My understanding of a play involves the opportunity to retire a batter, batter-runner, or runner. This can't happen when the ball is rolling in foul territory.
Ignoring the contact and calling the ball foul once F1 touched it foul seems to be the only book-supported option.