Player on base gets hit with batted ball

[cmcramer]

Thought I knew this one, but now...I am confused.


If a runner has contact with a legally occupied base when he hinders a fielder attempting to make a play on a batted ball, the runner shall not be called out unless, in the umpire's judgment, such hindrance, whether it occurs on fair or foul territory, is intentional.

So, if R3 is making every effort to bend, twist, step out out of the way of the fielder...and somehow a twisting, windblown batted ball strikes R3....he is not out.

But absent that type of effort, he is out?

So just standing there like a statue is "intentional"....and ducking over, not even trying to follow the ball is "intentional"?

Does this sound about right?

Thanks!

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by cmcramer

Thought I knew this one, but now...I am confused.


If a runner has contact with a legally occupied base when he hinders a fielder attempting to make a play on a batted ball, the runner shall not be called out unless, in the umpire's judgment, such hindrance, whether it occurs on fair or foul territory, is intentional.

So, if R3 is making every effort to bend, twist, step out out of the way of the fielder...and somehow a twisting, windblown batted ball strikes R3....he is not out.

But absent that type of effort, he is out?

So just standing there like a statue is "intentional"....and ducking over, not even trying to follow the ball is "intentional"?

Does this sound about right?

Thanks!

Not correct.

As always, there's a difference between "interfering" with the ball and "interfering" with the fielder.

Unless it's an infield fly, the base is never protection from "interfering" with the ball..

The base is protection from "interfering" with the fielder, unless it's intentional.

[cmcramer]

Got it now.

Thank you, Bob!

[celebur]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

As always, there's a difference between "interfering" with the ball and "interfering" with the fielder.

Unless it's an infield fly, the base is never protection from "interfering" with the ball..

The base is protection from "interfering" with the fielder, unless it's intentional.

Well stated.

One thing that confuses players is that in softball (generally), the base is protection from interfering with the ball. A lot of players have never actually read the rule book, which results in rules 'migrating' from one sport to another.