what's the call

[hawk21]

For you smart guys, bases loaded and one out, ball hit to shortstop who comes home, catcher throws to first and hits runner who is about 70 feet up the line and on inside of fair/foul line, while this is happening runner from 2nd is crossing the plate, what is the call?

[kylejt]

Are we making the HUGE assumption that we have a lane violation out at first? There was no mention of if the throw was catchable, or even if someone was there to catch it.

[Cub42]

In the original post, he stated that the runner was 70 ft up the line, on the inside of the F/F line. The runner is out for interference, and we all know that no runner can advance on this interference. What bearing do you think the position of F3 has on this play? the answer is none

[BretMan]

I don't know about being smart enough to answer that question, but it might help to be somewhat clarivoyant.

As the question is stated, we have to assume that the throw home was in sufficient time and accompanied by a sufficient tag to retire R3. If that is the case, then that would be our second out.

For the subsequent throw to first, we need to assume that the batter-runner interfered with the fielder- if there even was one!- receiving the throw before we can assume the B/R out for interference.

And if all those assumptions are correct, no runs would score on this play as the third out was made against the B/R prior to him reaching first base.

But you've left out enough pertinent details that we could assume just about anything on this play. I could assume that the throw to the plate was late and R3 scores. I'll then assume that F2's throw to first was in the dirt and heading toward foul ground, not a throw likely to retire the B/R and thus not interference with the fielder taking the throw.

Now I'm going to assume that the defensive coach charged onto the field arguing for an interference call that wasn't there. Meanwhile, R2 and R1 continue running and cross the plate. The B/R makes it to third before the defense wakes up and realizes what's going on. The defensive coach is ejected when he calls the umpire a "blind *@#!%!".

So the obvious answer is: three runs score, there is still only one out, the coach has been ejected and we continue with a runner on third base!

[NFump]

I wanna know who it is running from 2nd......Mercury? What, was he stealing on the pitch and almost to third when the ball is hit? Or is the throw from the catcher one of those Bugs Bunny super duper slow balls to first. Realistically, how could this R2 be crossing the plate as the throw from the catcher hits the BR? If he was this close don't you think the catcher would attempt a tag? Could you please elaborate a bit more?

Anyway, yep, out at home on the force, out on BR for interference, no run scores with 2 outs; no intervening play (no play made at home on R2) so with less than 2 send him back TOP base. (See 2.00 Interference comment OBR).

[NFump]

Originally Posted by BretMan

I don't know about being smart enough to answer that question, but it might help to be somewhat clarivoyant.

As the question is stated, we have to assume that the throw home was in sufficient time and accompanied by a sufficient tag to retire R3. If that is the case, then that would be our second out.

For the subsequent throw to first, we need to assume that the batter-runner interfered with the fielder- if there even was one!- receiving the throw before we can assume the B/R out for interference.

And if all those assumptions are correct, no runs would score on this play as the third out was made against the B/R prior to him reaching first base.

But you've left out enough pertinent details that we could assume just about anything on this play. I could assume that the throw to the plate was late and R3 scores. I'll then assume that F2's throw to first was in the dirt and heading toward foul ground, not a throw likely to retire the B/R and thus not interference with the fielder taking the throw.

Now I'm going to assume that the defensive coach charged onto the field arguing for an interference call that wasn't there. Meanwhile, R2 and R1 continue running and cross the plate. The B/R makes it to third before the defense wakes up and realizes what's going on. The defensive coach is ejected when he calls the umpire a "blind *@#!%!".

So the obvious answer is: three runs score, there is still only one out, the coach has been ejected and we continue with a runner on third base!

Dang! I never thought of that! Bwahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!

[jicecone]

Originally Posted by NFump

I wanna know who it is running from 2nd......Mercury? What, was he stealing on the pitch and almost to third when the ball is hit? Or is the throw from the catcher one of those Bugs Bunny super duper slow balls to first. Realistically, how could this R2 be crossing the plate as the throw from the catcher hits the BR? If he was this close don't you think the catcher would attempt a tag? Could you please elaborate a bit more?

Anyway, yep, out at home on the force, out on BR for interference, no run scores with 2 outs; no intervening play (no play made at home on R2) so with less than 2 send him back TOP base. (See 2.00 Interference comment OBR).

Actually WHAT, was playing first and WHO was on second.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by hawk21

For you smart guys, bases loaded and one out, ball hit to shortstop who comes home, catcher throws to first and hits runner who is about 70 feet up the line and on inside of fair/foul line, while this is happening runner from 2nd is crossing the plate, what is the call?

Well, this is not a well crafted question. The runner from 2nd (R2) is crossing the plate - so he has run 160-70 feet while the batter-runner has run 70? I don't think so.

But the obvious issue is running lane interference. Assuming you've got an out at the plate, is the batter-runner (BR) out for interference?

To call this kind of interference, you need 3 things:
1. BR has at least one foot outside (not on the line) the running lane; and
2. A quality throw from F2 that has a chance to retire the runner; and
3. BR's being out of the running lane interferes with the fielder making the play at 1B (for example, because the throw hit him).

Missing ANY of these 3, we don't call this kind of interference; 6.05(k).

If you have ALL of these, the BR is out, and all (remaining) runners return to their bases at the time of the pitch; 2.00 "Interference" (a) Comment. If it's the third out, no runs can score; 4.09(a).

[SanDiegoSteve]

We have one out already. Play at the plate for force is 2 outs. If we judged INT on BR, he is 3rd out, no runs score on the play.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by Cub42

In the original post, he stated that the runner was 70 ft up the line, on the inside of the F/F line. The runner is out for interference, and we all know that no runner can advance on this interference. What bearing do you think the position of F3 has on this play? the answer is none

Nice try.

Read the rule - the interference has to be with the fielder taking the throw - not the throw itself. If the fielder is nowhere near the base there is no interference under this rule.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

Nice try.

Read the rule - the interference has to be with the fielder taking the throw - not the throw itself. If the fielder is nowhere near the base there is no interference under this rule.

But Rich, Cub42 is a professional umpire. How could he possibly be wrong?

[Cub42]

I guess I should have not assumed that F3 was at 1st. I guess you guys see players frequently just throw the ball without somebody , especially the catcher throw to 1st, without anyone in the vicinity of the base. I also forgot to cover every possibility that could result. Yep, guess you showed me.

[kylejt]

I also forgot to cover every possibility that could result.

And that, sir, is what separates the good umpires from the rest of 'em.

[Cub42]

So let me get this straight, By answering some absurd question on a site, you know who is a good umpire, and who isn't? How about letting everybody know the lottery numbers too. It's a little different out on the field, than answering questions here. AND That, is what seperates good umpires from the rest of the pack.

[kylejt]

Applying a little thought before answering a question, and not making a lot assumptions beforehand, would be a trait of a good umpire. Plus, it will help you out when it comes to passing tests.

To your question. Is answering this particular question correctly a mark of a good umpire? Not really. Is answering it incorrectly, or not thinking it through, an indication of a bad umpire? That's perhaps closer to the mark.

If the BR is hit in the back, but he's still twenty feet from the bag, there is a huge question of if the throw was on target. If F2 steps to his left to avoid a hook slide, that's creating quite an angle for this throw, and it could be ten feet off the bag.