1st/3rd base coach sitches

[eureka25]

I got two things that that I would like to hear how you guys handle with the base path coaches.

Sitch 1:
Foul Pop fly down the first base line. First basemen goes after the ball and the first base coach does not move a muscle. 1st basemen runs around the coach and misses the ball. Do you make a call here for a coach interfernce even though no contact was made ??? What is the fule sited ???

Sitch 2:
This happens all the time and I want to hear responses on how you handle the coaches mouths. Ball is hit down the line and the ball is foul territory - Coach yells foul well before the ball is dead or touched. Give me some good responses to come back at him with. On a side note - this really upsets me when a fellow umpire calls it foul way too early also.

Thanks,
Jeff

[Kaliix]

OBR 7.11
The players, coaches or any member of an offensive team shall vacate any space (including both dugouts) needed by a fielder who is attempting to field a batted or thrown ball. PENALTY: Interference shall be called and the batter or runner on whom the play is being made shall be declared out.

If the coach just stood there, he intentionally didn't vacate the space needed by a fielder attempting to play on a batted ball. BR is out, any other runners return to TOP base.

If the coach does try and get out of the way and contact is made, it is usually not interference (J/R pg 111 (1)).

In the case of the coach yelling foul, politely ask him to allow you make those calls. That will usually work. If he persists, warn him again, then eject him on the third instance. I can't imagine having to eject over this however.

[bbump82]

E25, since the rule has been sited, I'll share this.
Once had the 1st base coach reach out and catch a weak pop-up that was to his left (dugout side), the problem was that F3 had moved to make a catch and could have if the coach hadn't taken it in front of him. I was in shock that this happened, called intference and sent the batter to 1st. Then came to my senses as the Def. coach called time and wanted an explanation as to why I gave him 1st. I had a lot of fun explaining to the Off. coach that I kicked it and that the batter is out.

As far as the coach calling foul before you can. After he does it, ask why he is out of uniform? When he gives you that quizical look, tell him that if he is going to make those calls, he needs to be dressed like you are!!

[DG]

Originally posted by eureka25
I got two things that that I would like to hear how you guys handle with the base path coaches.

Sitch 1:
Foul Pop fly down the first base line. First basemen goes after the ball and the first base coach does not move a muscle. 1st basemen runs around the coach and misses the ball. Do you make a call here for a coach interfernce even though no contact was made ??? What is the fule sited ???

Sitch 2:
This happens all the time and I want to hear responses on how you handle the coaches mouths. Ball is hit down the line and the ball is foul territory - Coach yells foul well before the ball is dead or touched. Give me some good responses to come back at him with. On a side note - this really upsets me when a fellow umpire calls it foul way too early also.

Thanks,
Jeff

1) Easy interference call. Batter is out. 2) I ignore him, and make my call. If it is clearly foul, what difference does it make that he called it before I did? Now if it's fair I signal fair (because I ignored his call already) and get ready for the next play and the argument that may be likely. Then it depends on who is arguing and how hard, what happens next, assistants beware.

[joetothjr]

As an aside, I had a reverse situation, kind of.

Pop foul between coach and foul fence, and the coach doesn't move a muscle.

Fielder never makes a move to catch the ball. Manager insists that this was because the coach was in the way and the interference should be called even though the fielder didn't even move 1 step toward the ball and was still a good 6 feet into fair territory.