[mick]

Originally posted by bob jenkins

FED 1-4 Penalty: If loose equipment interferes with play, the umpire may call an out(s), award bases or return runners, based on his judgment and the circumstances concerning the play.


NCAA 1-15d AR(2001 book): If a pitched, batted or thrown ball touches equipment that is in live-ball territory, the ball remains live.

I don't think it's covered in OBR, but JEA / JR may have something to say on it.

It's only happened to me once, but I chose (and would again) the interp that penalized the offending team. IOW, if a defensive team leaves equipment out, and that prevents the ball from going to dead ball territory, I'd award bases. IF the offensive team left the equipment out, keep the ball live.

From J/R
"Authority of an umpire: Miscellaneoous duties:

C. Equipment on Live Ball Territory

Fielders gloves (and hats) cannot lie on LBT, including a top step or lip of a dugout that is LBT. Catchers in the bullpen cannot allow their mask or mitt to lie unattended in the open on LBT; unattended equipment is allowed in a LBT bullpen, but should be placed beneath the bench. Bats and accessories used on the on-deck circle should be localized and minimized in number during a team's at bat, and removed to the dugout(or other DBT) while that team is on defense.

There is not interference (assuming no intent) if a live ball strikes or touches equipment on LBT. Also, there is no interference if a fielder is unable to make a play due to contact with an inadvertently placed piece of equipment on LBT. However if a ball strikes a piece of equipment that is on LBT (usually the lip or top step of the dugout), and such ball would have entered DBT absent the contact with such equipment, then the ball is considered to have entered DBT."