R3 "interferes" with F5 on line drive

[David Emerling]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

Nope. You dive back just like a pick at 1B. Stay foul - reach to the edge of the bag. Keeps you farther from the tag attempt that way and prevents getting hit by a fair ball too. And you said that R3 dove.

Actually, runners (on 3rd) are taught to take their leadoff in foul territory (so as not to get hit by a fair batted ball, like you said) but to return in FAIR territory (after the pitch) so as to block any attempt on the part of the catcher to pick him off - forcing the catcher to throw around him or, better yet, the thrown ball hits the runner and is deflected away allowing him to score. "Lead off in foul, return in fair" is the proper way.
This is proper technique: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaE-725FNCU

In any case, none of this is the point of the question. An answer to a rules question is never, "That would never happen" or "The player shouldn't do it that way." There should always be an answer; because weird things do happen and players sometimes don't do things the way they should.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by David Emerling

Actually, runners (on 3rd) are taught to take their leadoff in foul territory (so as not to get hit by a fair batted ball, like you said) but to return in FAIR territory (after the pitch) so as to block any attempt on the part of the catcher to pick him off - forcing the catcher to throw around him or, better yet, the thrown ball hits the runner and is deflected away allowing him to score. "Lead off in foul, return in fair" is the proper way.
This is proper technique: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaE-725FNCU

In any case, none of this is the point of the question. An answer to a rules question is never, "That would never happen" or "The player shouldn't do it that way." There should always be an answer; because weird things do happen and players sometimes don't do things the way they should.

Maybe return fair if possible on a pick attempt because you can see it coming. It isn't always.

A batted ball is not the same. It's a surprise and it gets there much faster.

You lead off as far from the base as F5.

The closer to HP the more foul you get.

[Robert Goodman]

I'm trying to imagine the geometry of this. Seems most likely the runner & the fielder would meet on or in the vicinity of the bag going in opposite directions, & that the momentum of the runner might carry him sliding over the base even if he initially touched its foul edge only, leading him to cut the legs out of the fielder.

Is the call in any way dependent on which of them gets to the base earliest? If the runner is there first, can he still be called for interference if while still in contact with the base he hinders the fielder's play by even inadvertent contact?

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

Is the call in any way dependent on which of them gets to the base earliest? If the runner is there first, can he still be called for interference if while still in contact with the base he hinders the fielder's play by even inadvertent contact?

If a runner is legally occupying a base, interference with a fielder must be intentional to be illegal.