Quote:
Originally Posted by NFump
one out, man on first base. count is 2-2 on the batter. pitcher throws ball 3. batter thinks it is ball 4 and starts to run to first base. the runner on 1st thinks it must be ball 4 also and starts to walk to 2nd. the catcher, knows it is ball 3 and now attempts to pick the runner off at 1st base off since he is moving so slowly. the thrown ball by the catcher now hits the batter-runner and the runner on first now makes it to second. what is the ruling?
Who is this batter? Mercury? What did he do......leave for first as the pitcher started to pitch? Do you actually think the catcher waited that long to throw down to first? Please show me where it states he's way out in front of F2 or has even reached the running lane much less whether or not he's in it (like it matters in this case), but let's roll with it.
The BATTER is halfway (35 to 45 feet) to first when catcher "pegs" him in the back, has the BATTER stepped out of the box? Well yes he has. Did he interfere with the catcher's throw to retire a runner? Yep, knocked it down with his back as he was running (in the running lane no less) to first. Is he guilty of Batter's Interference? Absoforkinlutely!
Here's how I see it: The BATTER is most likely just clearing the lefty batter's box and getting directly in front of F2 AS HE IS THROWING to first. That's not an "errant throw", "poor defense", "a crappy throw"or "poor aim". IT'S INTERFERENCE. Nor is it any of those in your example, IT'S INTERFERENCE.
6.8 BATTER INTERFERES WITH CATCHER
Under Official Baseball Rule 6.06(c), if the batter interferes with the catcher's THROW TO RETIRE A RUNNER by STEPPING OUT OF THE BATTER'S BOX, the plate umpire SHALL call "interference". The batter is OUT and the ball is dead(provided the catcher's initial throw does not retire the runner; see following paragraph). And so on and so forth. (notice is says "shall")
MLBUM 6.10 BATTER INTERFERES WITH CATCHER'S THROW BACK TO PITCHER (notice it says throw).
Skip on down to the second paragraph, last two lines where it says:
If the batter interferes with the catcher's THROW TO RETIRE A RUNNER by stepping out of the batter's box, interference SHALL be called on the batter under Official Baseball Rule 6.06(c). (See Section 6.8)
To reiterate....Did the batter step out of the box? Yes
Did the catcher throw in an attempt to retire a runner? Yes
Did batter interfere with said throw? Yes
Is it an out? You bet your bippy.
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Obscure Dick Martin reference aside, you are the one reading into the OP. This is most likely a Little League-type game, with an indecisive catcher, runners who don't know what the F they're doing, likewise the batter, who has already started
running, not walking, to 1st base. Yes, the catcher probably didn't throw right away, because by all admissions, he didn't know where to throw the ball. It certainly was a
bad throw, and nothing more.
A coach or bench player that
unintentionally touches a thrown ball is
not guilty of interference, any more than was the batter in this case.
Also, I firmly believe that both the rule and MLBUM interpretation is referring to the catcher's throw, not the ball after the throw. Interfering with the catcher's throw of the ball. The physical act of
throwing the ball, not what happens after the catcher uncorks a wild throw. The catcher in this case is obviously inexperienced at best. He doesn't know how to say, "inside, inside," or "outside, outside" to F3, and find a way to get around the batter. I guess he figures the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, and by God he is going to throw it right through the batter's back, come hell or high water.
Rewarding an errant throw by bailing out the hapless catcher is not the proper ruling on this particular play, IMO and IMOO as well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PeteBooth
I agree with Steve
Let's simply change the dinamics in the OP. No one on first. B1 K's but ball is is dropped by F2 or gets away from F2.
B1 starts to run to first base and F2's throw hits B1 in the back. B1 was IN THE running lane.
What's your call?
I gather from your response above you would have interference and IMO you would be wrong.
You cannot let "F2 off the hook" on bad throws.
As Steve said a good F2 KNOWS how to throw. You will hear F2 or F3 say INSIDE / OUTSIDE so that there is a CLEAR throwing lane for F2.
IMO, most are "hung-up" on the fact that the batter in this OP is NOT a runner so the simply fact that he ran to first is cause for interference.
You need to LOOK at the ENTIRE play. Also, do NOT reward the defense because F2 made an errant throw.
Pete Booth
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Exactly right.
Quote:
Originally Posted by NFump
I suppose any time the catcher throws and hits the RUNNER in this sitch you've given (out of the lane on the grass, or out of the lane in foul territory) it's a poor throw by the catcher?
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Correct, it is a poor throw. There is no reason F2 can't throw around a runner. It is interference if the runner interferes with F3's ability to catch the ball, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a poor throw.
Quote:
Originally Posted by NFump
Because "As Steve said a good F2 KNOWS how to throw. You will hear F2 or F3 say INSIDE / OUTSIDE so that there is a CLEAR throwing lane for F2."
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Exactly. Any catcher worth the price of his shin guards knows how to find a clear throwing lane. Sheesh.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GA Umpire
I did not read the OP as a bad throw. I read the OP as R1 is off the base and F2 is trying to pick him off. Then, the batter, thinking he can run, ran in front of F2 as F2 is throwing the ball to 1B as a pick off. I read it as F2 did not know the batter was trying to run and ran in front of his throw. To see it any other way would be a HTBT b/c I am imagining it as F2 is trying to pick off R1 and the batter got in the way out of the box.
Therefore, I have BI with batter out and R1 back to 1B. I believe it depends upon how you imagine the play as to what the call is. Especially if it is a LHB and he breaks as soon as F2 catches and starts to throw to 1B and the batter suddenly gets in the way. I do not imagine it as a poorly thrown ball. I imagine it as a pick off and the batter [which may be LH] stepped in front of the throw as F2 is coming up to throw.
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Right, it depends on how you
imagine the play. That's really all we can do since we weren't there and there is no video. Darn the luck.