baseline

[mike1989]

i just wanted to throw this out. Yet to have a complaint and would like to know what other umps think...
i believe for running to first is last half of the way they have the line and 3 feet to right.
what about when dropped third strike and runner is taking the path on either side. specially when ball goes in fair territory and he is inside foul line to make it a difficult throw for catcher.
Would you call anything? or is this not interference?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by mike1989

i just wanted to throw this out. Yet to have a complaint and would like to know what other umps think...
i believe for running to first is last half of the way they have the line and 3 feet to right.
what about when dropped third strike and runner is taking the path on either side. specially when ball goes in fair territory and he is inside foul line to make it a difficult throw for catcher.
Would you call anything? or is this not interference?

The "running lane" is in effect on the uncaught third strike. Merely running out of the lane is not interference, however.

[mike1989]

o.k.
yet it might not be interference.
running out the the base line is...if he knows to run inside the foul line to make a throw to first difficult, can this not be called a out for running out of the baseline if the catcher cannot make a throw because he is running in fair territory.
just a question

[3appleshigh]

NO

If the catcher can't make the throw, he should have been taught to hit the runner in the back for the interference call.

[mike1989]

so if he hits the runner, do we call interference

[3appleshigh]

If he is out of the running lane you do. you can also call it if the catcher throws the ball away into the Field, but it is a much harder sell.

[DG]

Originally Posted by mike1989

so if he hits the runner, do we call interference

Depends. The BR shall run in the running lane when there will be a throw from the plate area, usually from F2, but it could be F1, or maybe F5 and it's usually a bunt or third strike not caught. If he is out of the running lane and is struck by a quality thrown ball he shall be ruled out for interference. The quality thrown ball is important. Let's say he swings at strike 3 and the ball gets away from F2 to his right. The BR is running left of the foul line in fair territory and is struck by a throw from F2 who has retrieved the ball. The BR is struck 15 feet from the bag and the throw has no chance of reaching 1b. This is not a quality throw and we shall not call interference on this one. Or let's say the BR lays downa bunt and is running right of the running lane when he is struck by a throw that has no chance of reaching 1b, same thing, not a quality throw. The BR is not interfering with the thrown ball, but with F3's opportunity to catch it. If it's a bad throw then there is no interference with F3. Also, there can never be an interference call without a throw, again because he is not interfering with F3's right to catch it, if it wasn't thrown.

One exception in FED, there is an interp out there that says if F2 throws the ball over F3's head trying to lob it over the BR we shall rule interference on this. This is FED interp only, OBR would consider this to be a poor quality throw.

F2 should never be coached to intentionally throw at a runner or he will surely hit one with a poor throw someday and could cause an injury. He should be coached to do his best to make a good throw to 1b and let the chips fall where they may. If in so doing he hits the BR then the umpires will rule on it considering the position of the runner and the quality of the throw.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by boyinblue24

Ha! In LL if this happens you've got NOTHING! Except a hurt runner. Wouldn't that apply to all levels?

I don't purport to be an expert on LL rules, but I find this hard to believe.

[mcrowder]

Originally Posted by boyinblue24

Ha! In LL if this happens you've got NOTHING! Except a hurt runner. Wouldn't that apply to all levels?

Once again, jumping out there with an incorrect ruling. No, this is not correct - in LL, the interference rule regarding a runner more than halfway to first is IDENTICAL to higher levels.