batter intentionally picks up a live ball
 

The batter walks on a pitch in the dirt. There are no oither runners on base. The ball deflects off the catcher and goes about 10 feet up the 1st baseline. The batter, while trotting toward 1st, decides to bend over and pick up the loose ball and tosses it back to the pitcher.

Should he be declared out for interfering with a live ball? It was clearly intentional. Yet, the defense was not in the process of making any play.

David Emerling
Memphis, TN

Off hand I would wonder what he interfered with.

In OBR, it wasn't a throw and it wasn't a batted ball, so it must still be a pitch. And, in FED, I'm sure it was still moving v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y. It was still a pitch and the "batter" intentionally got hit. Dead ball, hit while out of the zone, ball 4. Award first. ;)

Does the rulebook state that a batter runner is out for interfering with a live ball? (No.)

Or does it state that a batter runner is out for interfering with a PLAY (yes).

"TIME! Leave the ball alone."

You are correct in that he didn't "interfere" with any attempted play, so don't make a big deal out of it. Similar to having a runner on first who is not advancing on the pitch, and when the ball trickles out of the catcher's mitt the batter "helpfully" stops it with his foot. Same reaction from me - "Time - leave it alone." Of course, it's a different situation when that runner tries to advance, but that's for another post.....

JJ

Not a hit ball..
Not a thrown ball...
No other runners on base...
No problem. Just a dead ball.

For the sake of discussion, lets say there was a runner at 1B, who was slowly making his way to 2B due to the walk. Or, a runner at 2B, who hasn't moved a muscle toward 3B.

Did the batter interfere or assist?

Back to what I asked you..

When they picked up the ball ... was there a play? In neither of these is there a play.

Sigh....
Common Sense

Was it ball 4? --- Yes
Were there any runners on base? --- No
Was there any play to be made? --- No

So why is this even a question?

For all interference questions, remember that there must be a play for there to be interference.

Keep it simple and just kill the ball. It wouldn't matter if there were runners on base. Forced runners get to advance to the next base without liability to be put out. Non forced runners just stay put. Play on.

Not true.