Interference on a DP
 

Went to a game today. 1 out R1. Grounder to short, flips to second baseman who is way off the bag. BU calls the runner safe. BR is safe by 5 feet but I hear "out". BU called interference at 2nd and BR out but let the runner stay at second.

Is this possible? I know he missed it when he didn't kill the play but how can the runner remain at second? 7.09 f says they both should be called out but 6.05 m is worded differently and only rules the batter out.

I'm assuming FED rules? But if interference is called on this play it should result in a DP - the FPSR.

But, hard to believe he would call interference on R2 and then allow him to stay on the bag.

What did the runner do to cause interference would be my question especially since the F4 was off the bag. The only thing I can think of would be an illegal slide.

Strange play

Thanks
David

I'm lost here. F4 is way off the bag. BU calls R1 safe. So far, so good.

Now, if F4 is way off the base, and R1 slid safely into 2nd base, how did he manage to interfere with a fielder who was "way off the base?" Are you sure the fielder was way off the base, or just a little off the base?

If FED, because of the FPSR and the fact that you can't slide any way except straight in to the base, why call him safe? But if this is an OBR game, R1 can certainly take out F4 as long as he can touch the base.

Please give me just three details. The rules set used, how far off the base was F4, and how did R1 slide into 2nd.

OBR, 2 feet off the base, looked like a straight slide to me but I followed the ball to first so I didn't see what happened next.

My biggest question is how a runner can interfere but be allowed to stay on base.

FTVMartin,

That's an excellent question.

He can't!

JM

Bobby:

Please explain your reasoning further. None of the examples in 6.05(m), or in the JEA cite this possiblity. Granted, as strict reading of the preface could be contrued this way, but when one reads further it is clear that the rule was written to get a double play.

Also, wouldn't 7.08 apply to interference by a preceding runner and if so, that would cause him to be called out as well...no?

7.08 Any runner is out when-
(b)He intentionally interferes with a thrown ball; or hinders a fielder attempting to make a play on a batted ball;

Ump153,

While I would be (at least among) the first to say that bobby knows more about this stuff than I do, I believe he has misspoken in this case.

JM

i just deleted my original post cuz i realized i was unclear in it due to alcohol consumption. i was trying to explain the differences between the 2 rules that were cited in the OP, and i said "only" where i shouldn't have then left out the damn rule difference i was trying to explain. should have done some proof reading before posting and going to bed. damn yuengling. anyway, sorry bout that. this is what my edited post would have looked like...

7.09(f) says they are both out if the interference is in an attempt to break up a double play. since the runner going to 2nd was already safe, there can no longer be a double play. 6.05(m) says that we are going to call the batter/runner out for the interference of a preceding runner, but only if he is attempting to break up a double play, which he was not cuz he was already called safe at 2B. R1 should have been called out for interference, and the b/r should have been awarded 1B.

i'm not sure what the interference call was for in the OP, but i would guess that 7.08 would not apply. he certainly wasn't interfering with a fielder making a play on a batted ball, so we can eliminate that. the interference with a thrown ball in 7.08 is actually talking about interfering with the ball, not with the fielder, i.e R1 reaches up and knocks the ball out of the air, which i don't think was the case cuz it sounds like the ball made it to 1B in the OP.

Well, I certainly wouldn't argue with that! ;)

JM

I would call it this way:

If the INT occurs clearly AFTER R1 was safe (e.g., pop-up slide): then there's no DP, "Time, that's interference." R1 out on the INT, BR awarded 1B (it's an award because the ball is dead).

If the INT occurs AS R1 reaches 2B or BEFORE (hands up, collision, etc.): then the INT is an attempt to break up the DP, "Time, that's interference" R1 and BR out.

We usually see the latter scenario.

Much clearer and accurate...thanks.

beers + typing = not very clear.

Now I know why they tell us not to drink 12 hours before our games. Or is it 24 hours? I forget.

Maybe the ump in the OP thought it was 1-2, or 2-4 hours before??