[Rog]

You don't really expect us to buy this do you?

Re : "In your example, if the fielder after contacting his teammate was altered ever so slightly that he was still "within a reach" of his original location, then I'd
likely rule interference. The runner should have been avoiding such proximity to a fielder catching a batted ball no differently than if the ball had dropped from the
glove to an area 3ft. in front of the fielder."

* The situation was this:

"Just as F6 settles under the ball and catches the ball, outside of the baseline, F5
collides into F6 and the force of that collision causes F6 to collide with R1."

So, let's see what we have. Oh ya, we have F5 and F6 both trying to catch a high pop fly on left side of IF just outside the base line in the area of 3rd base.
Then, just as F6 settles under the ball and catches the ball, outside of the baseline, F5 collides into F6; and, the force of that collision causes F6 to collide with R1.
First off, what the hell is F6 doing stealling what should be an routine catch for F5?
It appears that F5 may have been making the play, and F6 was not paying attention to who really had the catch and got in the way.
So, should protect both infielders be protected until they decide who is taking the catch? I think not.
Now, we still have a hustling R1 trying to get to 3rd base while running inside the baselines, when he is plowed into by F6 who was pushed back inside the baseline by F5 and into the oncoming R1.
Hmmm, R1 you're "out", you say - I'll take a pass on this one, exit stage left.....

[Edited by Rog on Apr 19th, 2003 at 10:48 AM]