Phelphs-Johjima crash

[waltjp]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

count the run and eject for malicious contact...if you call him out, you can't count the run.

Thanks, but this didn't really answer my question. My thinking on this this situation, if played under FED rules, is that the PU should be emphatic about calling time as soon as the contact is made and then declare that the run has scored. This will most likely prompt the defensive manager to come out. It should be explained to him that the ball was dead as soon as the contact occurred and that runner has passed the plate so the run counts. If he has any sense he'll tell you that the runner missed the plate to which you reply, "Correct, runner is out on appeal."

Then turn and face the other dugout and wait for the offensive manager.

[UmpJM]

Simply as a point of information, here is what the MLBUM has to say on the subject, under the discussion of Offensive Interference:

While contact may occur between a fielder and runner during a tag attempt, a runner is not allowed to use his hands or arms to commit an obviously malicious or unsportsmanlike act-such as grabbing, tackling, intentionally slapping at the baseball, punching, kicking, flagrantly using his arms or forearms, etc.-to commit an intentional act of interference unrelated to running the bases. Further, if in the judgment of the umpire such intentional act was to prevent a double play, the umpire would rule the batter-runner out as well (see Section 6.3, specifically Play (4)). Depending on the severity of the infraction, it is possible the player may be ejected for such conduct.

JM

[LilLeaguer]

Originally Posted by CoachJM

Simply as a point of information, here is what the MLBUM has to say on the subject, under the discussion of Offensive Interference:

JM

But Johjima didn't have the ball yet. Any word on what a runner may do to a fielder not in possession of the ball, not blocking a basepath?