Interference or Not???

[insatty]

The interference rule itself won't help you on this play. A thorough reading of the manuals with interpretations will. Jaksa/Roder and BRD come to mind. The fielder is protected during his initial attempt to field the ball. These manuals explain when the fielder loses his protection, like when he misplays the ball and attempts to field it beyond his step and reach.

Personally, after spending much time digesting these manuals several times through, I don't believe that one can umpire well without a working knowlege of the interpretations and how the accomplished umpires officiate these plays. So buy J/R and BRD, and dig in!

As for the coach, you guys blew the call. Thus, you need to give the coach more leeway before ejecting him. When a coach makes his initial move toward you on a play where there is good reason for doubt, and there was no intervening play, hold up your hand and tell him that you'll discuss your doubt with your partner. Since interference will kill the play, this was a missed call that you and your partner could have corrected. Just call the runner out and put the other runners on their time-of-pitch bases and the batter-runner on 1B. Again, good working knowlege of the rules and the interpretations will alert you when there is reason to doubt.