Quote:
Originally Posted by youngump
Hijacking this:
I know you meant this somewhat flippantly but it got me thinking about unusual interruptions and made me realize I'm not sure what to do if I ever have one. Suppose that something happens, a meteor is fairly unlikely, but someone running out on the field (or more likely in Seattle, a dog), or something like that which messed with a live ball. Maybe it'd be a ball fouled from another field at a tournament.
Should I leave the ball live or kill it and make a best guess at what would have happened? My inclination is that as long as the obstruction can be ignored wait until things settle down; if it actually gets in the way than kill it and straighten it out. In no case would it ever be appropriate to nullify a play, have to respond to what happened, but no pitch could conceivably be declared. Does that all sound right?
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As long as the nuisance is not affecting the play or the players ability to execute a play, leave it alone. If you are forced to stop play, the rule of thumb is that you place the runner on the base to which they were closest when you/partner killed the play.
A little common sense also need to be applied here. If a runner is heading toward base the defender is standing there with the ball and/or in your judgment, the runner would most likely be out, do not award that base to that runner UNLESS forced to do so due to the base behind him/her is already occupied.