How would you rule on these plays.

cbfoulds · #11 (**permalink**) Tue Mar 15, 2005, 10:43am

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Originally posted by gordon30307

Quote:

R1 on third R2 on first no outs in each case.
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3. Slow grounder in the infield R2 goes in to second standing up and is out on a close play. The athletic infielder makes a great play avoiding physical contact with R2(throw doesn't appear to be altered) and retires BR and R1 obviously scores.
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These are my thoughts on the above plays. Thanks all for the input.

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Situation 3. As a base umpire seeing this play unfold in front of me (before the throw to first is made) I probably would immediately call the interference if the runner intentionally or unintentionally altered what whould be a routine play. Whether BR is safe or out at first should have no bearing on whether there is interference or not. Your judgement may be different.
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Your thoughts.......

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[emphasis added]

Don't know about judgment; but we are way apart on rules:

I know of no rule that R violated here ["a runner is never required to slide ...": sound familiar?]; there was no de facto "interference", as BR was put out; and, oh, yeah - by rule ["de jure"] interference with a throw/ thrown ball must be INTENTIONAL [or at least a FPSR violation]. What are you penalising, and by what authority?

My thoughts are you should stick to the rules as published and not make 'em up: that way you don't have to EJ the coach you just screwed out of a run before he protests your erroneous ruling and forces the game to be replayed from the point of your invention.

[Edited by cbfoulds on Mar 15th, 2005 at 10:49 AM]