Question on Play last night

[JFlores]

lets say the catcher bumps into the batter as he is about to make the throw, the batter is still in the box. Just a thought??

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by JFlores

lets say the catcher bumps into the batter as he is about to make the throw, the batter is still in the box. Just a thought??

If the batter is still in the box, then it's not interference unless the batter makes "some other movement" that interferes. The batter is allowed a normal swing (and follow-through, etc). If the batter, though, goes over the plate then he's liable to be called for interference (notice how this movement happens once in a thousand swings with no runner stealing, but once in three swings with a runner stealing? It's not that the gravitational force of R1 stealing "pulls" the batter over the plate.)

[JFlores]

thanks for the replies, I guess what I should of ask if this is a judgement call??

[bob jenkins]

Yes, it's a judgment call.

[mbyron]

Depends on what you mean by "this."

"Did the batter, stepping over the plate, interfere with the catcher's attempt to throw out the runner?"

--Yes, this is a judgment call.

"Did the catcher step to the side to avoid the batter?"

--No, not a judgment call: this is a misunderstanding of the BI rule.

[jicecone]

Originally Posted by JFlores

thanks for the replies, I guess what I should of ask if this is a judgement call??

Judgement: Did the batter interfere?
Yes - Interference
No - Nothing

Judgement: Intentional?
Yes - Interference
No - Interference