Strange play in small ball

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by David B

I know what you are saying, but I look at the same way as typical batter interference.

The BR who simply backs out of the box after the pitch doesn't intend to interfere but if F2 steps into him or hits him etc., we have interference.

So I think how FED is interpreting it is the way that I am, you can have interference by the BR without intent.

But as you stated, I'm still looking for futher examples etc,.

Thanks
David

There's a specific rule about the batter stepping out of the box. Not the same animal.

[SAump]

A whole bat is thrown into fair territory, whether intentionally or not, and it interferes with a defensive player attempting to make a play. Interference shall be called;

Windy stated the ruling applied to this situation, although F2 is usually standing over foul territory. He stated that the batter is responsible for his actions, whether his thrown bat ends up striking a thrown ball or a thrown ball ends up striking his thrown bat. At the time, that is before the AMLU strike, some folks insisted that the batter was required to "place the bat on the ground" and then take 1B because the rules prohibit a thrown bat. The B/R is also out by NCAA rule. Windy insisted the same was true for OBR.

[David B]

Originally Posted by SAump

Windy stated the ruling applied to this situation, although F2 is usually standing over foul territory. He stated that the batter is responsible for his actions, whether his thrown bat ends up striking a thrown ball or a thrown ball ends up striking his thrown bat.
The B/R is also out by NCAA rule. Windy insisted the same was true for OBR.

Thanks for the assistance. This is surely a strange play, but we know FED wants the out, and this helps confirm. As the BRD says so often when there is no specific ruling, go with the others that have a ruling.

Looked at all of the different plays in the BRD and this play is not covered, but the essence of it is in several other plays, situations.

Thanks
DAvid

[UMP25]

IMHO, absent intent I'd use a little of what Jim Evans calls "common sense and fair play." Just call "time" and kill everything--no penalty, no advancement (except those forced to advance by BR going to first). I'd bet 9.01(c) in OBR would cover this sensible ruling.

If one thinks about it, couldn't this be considered in the same manner as "weak interference" by a batter, that being when his backswing knocks the ball out of F2's glove and a runner on the bases takes off? There, you'd kill the ball and return any runner(s) with no penalty on the batter.