Controversial Interference Call

[SAump]

Stay tune for a whacky 4th inning play in the Braves/Pirates game. Braves Chipper Jones ran/leaped over the Pirates' Jose Bautista just after Bautista fielded the ball on the baseline near 3B. The umpires ruled that the fielder has fielded the ball cleanly. As Bautista was clobbered, he went down to the ground and never raised his glove to tag out Jones. Chipper made no effort to run around F5, landed hard on top of the bag and was later ruled safe. The Pirates skipper managed to stay in the game after the call against the Pirates. WOW. Pirates scored in the following half-inning to take a 0-1 lead, but lost the game 4-1.

Edited to add a salute to Bobby Cox who tied {Sparky} Anderson for fourth in all-time managerial wins, 2,194th.

Had trouble with the video link: http://mlb.mlb.com/media/player/mp_t...e=v_free&_mp=1

[Peruvian]

I saw this play and I don't know how this cannot be interference, considering that the least F5 was going to do was get the out at first.

I think they blew this one.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by Peruvian

I saw this play and I don't know how this cannot be interference, considering that the least F5 was going to do was get the out at first.

I think they blew this one.

I didn't see the play, but putting together the first two posts, it sounds like the umpires ruled that F5 had completed fielding the ball, so no interference there, and that Jones did not intentionally interfere with F5 as he was attempting a play, so no interference there.

[jicecone]

I saw the game also and the runner may not have intentionally interfered but he did interfere. He made contact with the fielder about 1/2 second after he fielded the ball. Then fell over him trying to get to third. As a result, the attempt to get the batter-runner at first was truly hindered. Intentional or not.

I thought that they would have called out the batter-runner.

[DG]

Originally Posted by jicecone

I saw the game also and the runner may not have intentionally interfered but he did interfere. He made contact with the fielder about 1/2 second after he fielded the ball. Then fell over him trying to get to third. As a result, the attempt to get the batter-runner at first was truly hindered. Intentional or not.

I thought that they would have called out the batter-runner.

Sounds like BR is placed at 1B and runner who interfered is OUT. Interference does not have to be intentional.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by DG

Sounds like BR is placed at 1B and runner who interfered is OUT. Interference does not have to be intentional.

Well, I don't have access to my books right now, but off the top of my head that is not a universally true statement.

Interference with a fielder fielding a batted ball does not have to be intentional, true. Apparently, the umpire ruled the fielder had already fielded the ball.

Intent does come into play with interference with a thrown ball. Would it also come into play with a fielder attempting to get set to throw a ball or make a play?

When the called interference on A-Rod for slapping the fielder's arm, they made a point of calling it an intentional act.

I believe that if the umpire had ruled the fielder was done fielding the correct call would be no interference on the the ensuing contact unless the umpire was convinced the the contact was intentional.

[DG]

Originally Posted by SAump

Stay tune for whacky 4th inning play in Braves/Pirates game. Chipper Jones ran/leaped over the Pirates' F5 just after he fielded the ball. The umpires ruled that the fielder has fielded the ball cleanly. As he was clobbered, F5 went down to the ground and never raised his glove to tag out Mr. Jones. Chipper made no effort to run around F5. Chipper landed hard on top of the bag and was later ruled safe. The Pirates skipper managed to stay in the game after the call against the Pirates.

Was there going to be a throw after F5 fielded the ball to possibly retire a runner?

[jicecone]

Originally Posted by DG

Was there going to be a throw after F5 fielded the ball to possibly retire a runner?

There was a throw but, it was not very good because the fielder had the runner on his back. That is why I thought there would be some call.