[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by BSUmp16

Here's the Tropicana Field Rule that deals with the subject:

"2. Fan Interference: Major League Baseball rules require that fans not go onto the field, throw objects onto the field or interfere with balls still in play. Violation may result in ejection from Tropicana Field and prosecution."

and OBR:

Rule 2.00 INTERFERENCE (d) Spectator interference occurs when a spectator reaches out of the stands, or goes on the playing field and (1) touches a live ball or (2) touches a player and hinders an attempt to make a play on a live ball. On any interference the ball is dead.

My interpretation is that although there was no spectator interference, the Tropicana Field rule prohibits interfering with a ball "in play"; and the ball was "in play" until it touched the ground or "any object foreign to the natural ground" (i.e., the fan).

So if the fan interfered with the ability to catch the ball before it touched the fan, he's in violation of the Tropicana Field Rule. If the interference didn't occur until after the fan touched the ball, the fan wasn't in violation of the rule since the ball was then immediately dead and could no longer be "in play"

(Slow day at the office )

Nice try. Ground rules cannot conflict with the regular rules. 3.13.