running lane interference

[DownTownTonyBrown]

Originally posted by 3appleshigh
#1)I guess the rules don't matter to you ... #2)At all other bags there is no rule to deal with therefore there is no interference even when the runner is hit by the THROWN BALL, so if your reasoning is that there's no rule at anyother bage re an a bad lob, why even call interferance on BR when hit by the ball since it also doesn't exist anywhere else???

1) I'm not arguing rules. I'm arguing an interpretation. I've been taught, and it makes absolutely perfect sense to me, that if the catcher wants an out, he's got to throw the ball. You can't rule NOT THROWING THE BALL as interference. And to make it even easier to enforce, I've also been taught that you can't rule interference unless the batter-runner is hit with the ball. This makes the rule very simply enforceable. Anything else and we enter a gray area where one umpire could readily listen to a catcher say "I didn't throw the ball because the runner was in the way." and the umpire mumbles back... "Oh, okay. Uuhhh, runner is out for interference." And another umpire says... " I thought you were going to throw to 2nd for the double play."

One interpretation gives us an easily enforceable rule. Runner was out of the lane, ball was thrown, ball hit runner. Runner is out - interference.

The other interpretation can be nothing but subjective.... all the way from "I didn't throw the ball because the runner was in the way." to "I lobbed it into right field because the runner was in the way."

Answer me this. Catcher lobs, runner beats the throw and touches base, fraction of a second later first baseman catches ball with his foot on the bag. Runner safe or runner out for interference? Stop all other runners from advancing or let them keep going? Whatcha gonna do? I'm calling him safe and I'll bet nobody is going to argue with me.

2)Why only at 1st? Because at 1st we have a catcher that is retreiving a bunted ball or a dropped third strike and the catcher's throws follow a similar path to what the runner is following. There is regular opportunity for interference.

Obviously these are just my opinions but I don't see anything in the rule or the game that should prompt officials to interpret a catcher intentionally lobbing a ball to any location, as BR interference. The catcher's I work for I'm certain have been taught to make the throw. They jump up and yell "inside" or "outside" and they send it on a wire to 1st base. Occasionally, the BR gets hit but not often (twice a season maybe).

Twice a season... Holy crap. I've wasted more time yacking about this garbage than I will spend making the call for the rest of my life... nuff said.

Oooh and I searched but didn't find anything of BFair's discussionfrom last year. Somebody pull out their Jaska/Roder and tell us what it says.