Erstad - Estrada Collision at the plate

GarthB · #1 (**permalink**) Tue Jun 07, 2005, 01:42pm

Quote:

Originally posted by CoachJM

From the MLBUM 6.1 Offensive Interference:

Quote:

"...While contact may occur between a fielder and runner during a tag attempt, a runner is not allowed to use his hands or arms to commit an obviously malicious or unsportsmanlike act-such as grabbing, tackling, intentionally slapping at the baseball, punching, kicking, flagrantly using his arms or forearms, etc.-to commit an intentional act of interference unrelated to running the
bases. ... Depending on the severity of the infraction, it is possible the player may be ejected for such conduct. ..."

As with many coaches, you seem to be guilty of selective reading.

Let's look at it again:

a runner is not allowed to use his hands or arms to commit an obviously malicious or unsportsmanlike act-such as grabbing, tackling, intentionally slapping at the baseball, punching, kicking, flagrantly using his arms or forearms, etc.-to commit an intentional act of interference unrelated to running the bases.

That covers the A-Rod situation.

Erstad, in time honored and legal tradition, plowed intot the catcher. He did not use his "hands or arms to....."

Legal play, coach. Good thing you work coach Little League, eh? You won't have to worry about it.

[Edited by GarthB on Jun 7th, 2005 at 02:55 PM]