Tough call for me today

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by DTQ_Blue

In response to Big Guy, batter was RH, F1 approaches plate and her best position to take the throw from F2 would have been slightly to side of the plate to her right as she approached. Because the batter was directly in her path, the pitcher stays more to her left and approaches the plate head on. This disadvantaged F1 in positioning herself to attempt to make the tag.

One thing I would add in response to the discussion about intent on the part of the batter. As I noted up top, this actually happened in a softball game, but I wanted this board's take on the play because it could happen in a baseball game. It happened in a 10U tournament game. There were a lot of good teams at this event but the batting team was not one of them. They were far inferior in quality to every other team present. This play happened because the batter didn't have a clue; no intent whatsoever. But I still had to make a call.

In baseball or softball, the pitcher does not have the right to block off the base without the ball. Unless the retired batter (softball) actually intentionally interfered with the pitcher, and I don't see how she could have from her position in the batter's box. Had she stepped forward and impeded F1's approach, then I can see INT. But if she remained in her batting position like many youth players do when they don't understand the situation (they kind of freeze), then she is not by that act alone interfering with the pitcher. The pitcher can only block the plate with possession (or imminent play in the judgment of the umpire) of the ball, otherwise she is obstructing if there is contact which impedes the runner.

It seems to me that if the batter was in such a position as to be interfering with the pitcher, she would no doubt be blocking her own teammate from scoring as well.

[DTQ_Blue]

Steve,

In 10U softball, the pitcher's plate is only 37' from home. A quick and alert pitcher gets to the plate to cover very quickly. Also due to the quality of the team at bat as noted above, R3 wasn't exactly off to a quick start down the line. F1 was not blocking the plate, but was at the plate before the runner and trying to set up slightly to the 3B side (throw was coming from slightly to the 1B side of the area behind the plate). That way, if she catches the catcher's throw, she just drops the glove. If she, a RH pitcher approaches the plate head on, she has to catch the throw and then reach back across her body to apply the tag before the runners foot contacts the plate.

I could see F1 looking at the batter and changing her angle of approach to the plate. IMO, the batter did not clear the area as she should have.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by DTQ_Blue

Steve,

In 10U softball, the pitcher's plate is only 37' from home. A quick and alert pitcher gets to the plate to cover very quickly. Also due to the quality of the team at bat as noted above, R3 wasn't exactly off to a quick start down the line. F1 was not blocking the plate, but was at the plate before the runner and trying to set up slightly to the 3B side (throw was coming from slightly to the 1B side of the area behind the plate). That way, if she catches the catcher's throw, she just drops the glove. If she, a RH pitcher approaches the plate head on, she has to catch the throw and then reach back across her body to apply the tag before the runners foot contacts the plate.

I could see F1 looking at the batter and changing her angle of approach to the plate. IMO, the batter did not clear the area as she should have.

Causing the pitcher to change approach angles is not interference. It is not the same principal as used in obstruction situations, where causing a deviation of a path is a violation. If the batter made no move to prevent the pitcher from setting up for the throw, then she didn't interfere. The pitcher could have just came right in and contacted the batter out of the way, but chose to accomodate the batter by not pushing her aside. The pitcher decided to change courses, the batter did nothing to cause this.

Of course, I wasn't there, so I really don't know what the batter did or didn't do, but if she just stood there, that act alone does not constitute interference.

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Causing the pitcher to change approach angles is not interference. It is not the same principal as used in obstruction situations, where causing a deviation of a path is a violation. If the batter made no move to prevent the pitcher from setting up for the throw, then she didn't interfere. The pitcher could have just came right in and contacted the batter out of the way, but chose to accomodate the batter by not pushing her aside. The pitcher decided to change courses, the batter did nothing to cause this.

Of course, I wasn't there, so I really don't know what the batter did or didn't do, but if she just stood there, that act alone does not constitute interference.

DTQ - I have to agree with SanDiegoSteve on this one. Merely being in the batter's box does not constitute interference and based on the description, it appears that the batter would interfere more with her own runner than the pitcher for this situation to be true. The normal assumption in any interference situation is "he/she has to get out of the way and let them make the play". Not true. Just like the FED slide rule to AVOID CONTACT. No contact, don't need to slide.