Train wrecks happen in baseball...Get over it !

[charliej47]

With the ball bouncing along the line and the runner running, the runner has to be able to see that the ball will be played by somebody! As soon as he brought his arms up, he telegraphed his intent. If he had time to do that, he had time to avoid.

I got at least one out and an eject!

[SanDiegoSteve]

The running lane is not there to give the runner special privileges while running in it. It is there as a demarcation of where he is supposed to be running in the event of his possible interference with the fielding of a thrown ball at first base. The fact that the pitcher came down with the ball in his running lane is irrelevant. The runner still has to try to avoid the tag, not run the pitcher down.

My question is, how does the runner not anticipate a collision? Isn't he watching where he's running, or is he running with his head down with blinders on? Instead of crossing his arms to protect himself (uh-huh), he would have been better served by altering his path to avoid a tag.

[johnnyg08]

these are all great points...I think I've changed some of my thoughts on this play after reading some of the posts...this could very possibly be interference...would love to see a clip...

[SAump]

OBR: Safe after a hard collision and referrring to MLB video of an F4 {Mr. Vina} being trampled for stepping in front of a large man who didn't stop running along his established basepath.
NCAA: I don't know.
NFHS: Although I would likely want to rule safe, after reading anything written by Mr Jenkins, I must reconsider my position.

[SanDiegoSteve]

IIRC, Vina stepped into the basepath to attempt a tag on (I'm thinking Ortiz but could be wrong). He had already fielded the ball and was attempting a play. In our original situation, the pitcher had not yet lost his "fielding a batted ball" protection, whereas Vina had.

Plus, we are not talking pro baseball here. As you know, they play by an entirely different set of contact rules than the amateurs do.

[waltjp]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

IIRC, Vina stepped into the basepath to attempt a tag on (I'm thinking Ortiz but could be wrong). He had already fielded the ball and was attempting a play. In our original situation, the pitcher had not yet lost his "fielding a batted ball" protection, whereas Vina had.

Plus, we are not talking pro baseball here. As you know, they play by an entirely different set of contact rules than the amateurs do.

Albert Belle was the runner in question and he was suspended for the contact.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Yeah that's right, Belle. I remember now. I knew it was some gigantic player.

But the play itself stood. No interference. He was suspended for the viscous contact.

[Eastshire]

While I think I tend to agree that the pitcher was still fielding the ball and that interference should have been called for that reason, I think too often umpires call interference in Fed when the fielder dives at the runner and initiates the contact, saying that the runner had an obligation to attempt to avoid the contact.

I think we have to look at how the contact developed and whether the runner has a reasonable chance to anticipate where the contact is likely to occur. For the most part a sudden dive or lunge by a catcher cannot be anticipated and I have a hard time faulting the runner for not being able to react to it.