runner interference??

[ggk]

line drive up the middle, the ball hits F1 in the leg and the ball begins to roll towards the first base foul line. F3 is charging the ball and is just about to field the ball. he is approx 20 ft in front of the bag. the ball is still in fair ground. BR, running in fair territory (outside the running lane) runs over F3 just as F3 is about the field the ball. is F3 protected in this situation? i was told that since the ball deflected off F1 that F3 is no longer protected. is that correct? what about the fact that BR is outside the running lane when contact is made? what are the rulings in FED, NCAA and PRO.

thanks.

[UmpJM]

ggk,

(Comments in the context of OBR.) There's a whole lot of umpire judgement on this play.

I believe the key factor that the umpire must judge is whether the F3 still had a legitimate chance to retire a runner (either the BR or another runner if there was one) absent the collision. If the F3 did have such a chance, then I believe that interference would be the proper call, the ball would be dead, the BR would be declared out, and any other runner(s) would be returned to their TOP base.

If, on the other hand, the F3 did not have a legitimate chance to retire a runner at the time of collision, I believe the proper call would be Type A Obstruction, the ball would be dead, the BR would be awarded 1B, and any other runner(s) would be awarded whatever base the umpire judged they would have achieved absent the obstruction.

Another aspect of umpire judgement on the play would be whether the BR was simply legitimately trying to advance to 1B, or whether he intentionally altered his path in order to collide with the F3; and, if so, whether his conduct was such as to be considered malicious or unsportsmanlike.

The fact that the runner was outside the running lane really has no bearing on the play because that only comes into play when a runner interferes with a fielder's ability to receive a throw at 1B.

JM

[David B]

Originally Posted by ggk

line drive up the middle, the ball hits F1 in the leg and the ball begins to roll towards the first base foul line. F3 is charging the ball and is just about to field the ball. he is approx 20 ft in front of the bag. the ball is still in fair ground. BR, running in fair territory (outside the running lane) runs over F3 just as F3 is about the field the ball. is F3 protected in this situation? i was told that since the ball deflected off F1 that F3 is no longer protected. is that correct? what about the fact that BR is outside the running lane when contact is made? what are the rulings in FED, NCAA and PRO.

thanks.

These types of plays although not too frequent, can be a challenge for any umpire.

Coach JM pretty much got it all as far as I've read.

We had a similiar play a few years ago where it hits F1, bounces toward f4 and the ball hits the runner and that's another challenge. Is the runner out, did he interfere etc.,

I don't have my book to look up the reference, but these are tough plays, but they are NOT third world.

Thansk
David

[David Emerling]

I don't have it handy, but I think plays such as these are discussed by Jim Evans.

I believe the criteria he established involved a determination as to whether the fielder was "chasing" a deflected ball. In other words, if the deflected ball is directed toward a fielder, and that fielder has a legitimate play, the runner must avoid the fielder or be liable for interference.

On the other hand, if the fielder is "chasing" after a deflected ball, the fielder would actually be guilty of obstruction if he should, in any way, hinder the runner's advance.

Tough judgment calls for the umpire.

I think this would be an example:

Line drive hit back to F1 who deflects the ball. The ball rolls in the direction of F4 but is now just rolling slowly on the infield grass. F4 charges in to make would will be a tough play, but while doing so, he cuts in front of R1.

Obstruction! F4 was chasing a loose ball.

The call may be different if, on the same play, the deflected ball had more energy and was directed toward F4 in such a way that didn't require F4 to "chase" it. Any hindrance by R1 in this case may be interference as opposed to obstruction.

I'll have to reread that section by Evans. I think I'm remembering it correctly, however.

David Emerling
Memphis, TN