|
Just to add, it's likely a sure bet that there was a runner's lane violation if the thrown ball hit the batter-runner. Where it gets dicier is when the throw doesn't hit her, and the fielder at first base fails to make the play. That's when you have to judge if the reason the fielder muffed it is because the batter-runner kept the fielder from seeing the ball, caused the fielder to hesitate or flinch, etc.
A bad throw will likely not result in a three-foot-lane-violation call, unless you judge the fielder still could have caught it (e.g., a throw in the dirt) if not for the batter-runner's position outside the lane.
__________________
"Let's face it. Umpiring is not an easy or happy way to make a living. In the abuse they suffer, and the pay they get for it, you see an imbalance that can only be explained by their need to stay close to a game they can't resist." -- Bob Uecker
|