Batter interference.

[Jim Porter]

Some things to think about:

The batter has the right to -

• Strike at the ball
• React naturally to the pitch in deciding to strike at it or not
• Avoid an inside pitch
• Stand still in the box

The batter may not -

• Step out the box (unless avoiding an inside pitch)
• Make any other movement not listed in the batter's rights above

The catcher does not necessarily have to throw if the umpire decides that the aborted throw was a direct result of the hindrance by the batter.

If the throw is made, we must wait before killing play to see if the throw is going to get the runner out or not. If the initial throw does not retire the runner, then invoke time and enforce the interference (do not wait to see if a rundown gets the runner - kill play if that first throw doesn't get him.)

When interference is called, the batter is always called out and the runner(s) returned. There is one exception - with less than two outs, and a runner from third is trying to score, if the batter interferes then the runner is called out instead - unless there are two outs and, in that case, the batter would be called out and the run would not score.