question on "interference"

[shickenbottom]

There is a question to be asked: "Is indeference a wilful and deliberate act."

We all know that certain types of interference do not have to be intentional and deliberate acts, batted ball hits runner running the bases prior to passing a fielder, umpire interference (both cases), catchers interference.

These types of plays carry penalties, outs / return to base occupied at TOP or TOT, or awarded bases. Since this is an offensive type, it should techically carry with it the out / return penalty.

So technically going by the book, out or send them back to 1st. We all realize that this "book" application rewards the defense for the wild pitch in this case, and we need to officiate both by the book and with the intent of the rules in mind. We also can't let this go and reward the offense with the runner basically reaching 3rd when if the ODB had avoided it it may or may not have gone out of play, and we can't reward the defense by sending the runner back to 1st or call them out for the wild pitch.

My gut feel, to remain objective and not reward or penalize either team, would be to call the ODBs' "indeference" a form of interference and leave the runner @ 2nd base. Then call both coaches together and my partner, to explain the reasoning behind the call.

This is a compromise application of the rules.