Interference after a walk

[largeone59]

R1. No outs.


1) Ball 4 is delivered to B3. F2 then tries to throw down to 2nd base. B3 unintentionally interferes with F2's throw as he's trotting to first across the plate, and the throw goes into center field. R1 ends up on third. What's the call?

2) Ball 4 is delivered to B3. The pitch gets away from F2 and is rolling near the opening of B3's dugout (first base dugout). B3 tosses his bat towards the opening as soon as ball 4 is delivered, and the bat bounces a few times, and makes contact with the ball (unintentional), knocking it out of play. What's the call?


Please note differences between OBR and FED.

Thanks

[JRutledge]

FED Rules.

In either situation if you decide to rule interference, the BR is out and you send the runners back to their original base. I guess anything is possible, but I would have a problem ruling interference in either of these situations.

Peace

[UmpJM]

largeone59,

My comments are strictly in reference to OBR - not sure how/if this would dffer under Fed.

1.Nothing/Play On. This is not 6.06(c) "batter Interference for two reasons: A)the batter has just become a runner by virtue of being awarded 1B on a base on balls; as a batter runner he is afforded protection from "unintentional interference" with the catcher's play as he leaves the batter's box and advances to first; and, B) the catcher's throw is not a "play" - i.e., it is not a legitimate attempt to put out an "in jeopardy" runner.

2.Since you (I'm presuming you're the umpire) "judged" the contact unintentional and it contacted a "loose ball" over foul territory (vs. contacting a batted ball over fair territory), I would treat this as "weak interference" similar to that defined in the 6.06(c) EXCEPTION when a batter hits the ball/catcher with the bat on his follow through. In other words, kill the play and allow the BR his award of 1B and R2 his "forced to" 2B.

JM