Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry1953
Well, I thought I knew the rules until I found this site and realized how much I don't know. OK, I think I gotcha here.....if a pitched (and I guess a thrown ball from a fielder) hits the PU such that it gets stuck in his paraphernalia, it's a dead ball, correct? I guess in the days of the balloon it might have happened every now and then, but I've never seen or heard of that happening - although I'm sure you guys have war stories where a ball somehow hopped into a ball bag or something.
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Let's make this easy.
Umpire Interference:
Plate Umpire: If the plate umpire interferes with the catcher's throw to retire a runner, that is interference.
Base Umpire: If a
batted ball contacts the umpire in the field before the ball passes a fielder (other than the pitcher), that is interference.
Those are the only 2 ways an umpire can interfere. Thrown balls striking the umpire are nothing, pitched balls striking the umpire are nothing, deflected balls striking the umpire are nothing.
It is all in
OBR 2.0(c):
Umpire’s interference occurs (1) when a plate umpire hinders, impedes or prevents a catcher’s throw attempting to prevent a stolen base or retire a runner on a pick-off play, or (2) when a fair ball touches an umpire on fair territory before passing a fielder.