Is this questionable?

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Dave Reed

Mind explicitly listing which part of J/R considers this "offensive interference"?

I believe he was referring to this section of J/R:

Chapter 13: Offensive Interference

B. Thrown Ball

It is interference by a runner on a thrown ball only if such runner:
1. commits an intentional action to interfere that disregards his try to get to a base safely, and
2. such action hinders a fielder trying to throw or trying to tag.

NOTE: Interference on a thrown ball does not require contact. Note also that a runner is not exempt from interfering because he has touched or passed home. Such runner can still interfere and cause the out of another runner.

A runner must prove by his actions and the way he positions himself that his intent is to reach and stay on a base safely. Actions that disregard this intent, and show, rather, an intent to interfere include:
a. grabbing, tackling, or assaulting a fielder,
b. intentionally standing and blocking a fielder,
c. waving arms,
d. slapping a fielder's glove or mitt,
e. going beyond (over-running) second or third base in a try to hinder a fielder,
f. sliding more than a body's length from a base in a try to hinder a fielder,

e.g. R1, one out. The second baseman fields a grounder and tosses to second where the shortstop tags the bag and is about to throw to first when R1: grabs his shirt, or slides into him two body lengths away from second, or goes beyond the back edge of second and roll blocks him, or waves his arms but does not contact ball or fielder.

In each case, the runner has shown by his actions and positioning that his intent is not to reach and stay on second safely, but to interfere with the shortstop's try to throw.

Sounds like the runner in the OP was interferring with F2 trying to tag him. The runner was not trying to advance to home plate and his sole intent was to crash the catcher, who was in the process of fielding the throw. JMO.

[SanDiegoSteve]

CU6,

Sorry for stepping all over your post. I think I found what you had.

[ozzy6900]

And, if I may, calling it "Offensive Interference" caused Dave to question CU6. It almost did the same to me but I have learned to simply correct people over the years.

In other sports, there is Defensive Interference and Offensive Interference.

In baseball, we refer to it as Obstruction (when the defense hinders a runner) and Interference (when the offense hinders a fielder).

Mixing up the terms will cause people to become confused and challenge you.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

And, if I may, calling it "Offensive Interference" caused Dave to question CU6. It almost did the same to me but I have learned to simply correct people over the years.

In other sports, there is Defensive Interference and Offensive Interference.

In baseball, we refer to it as Obstruction (when the defense hinders a runner) and Interference (when the offense hinders a fielder).

Mixing up the terms will cause people to become confused and challenge you.

There is a Defensive Interference. It's called "Catcher's Interference" in OBR.

Jaksa/Roder refers to Catcher's Interference as "Defensive Interference." This is how they separated their chapters.

They have chapters on Spectator and Authorized Person Interference, Umpire Interference, Offensive Interference, Defensive Interference, and Obstruction.

I guess they didn't get the memo that it was confusing, and they probably get challenged constantly.

[Dave Reed]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Sounds like the runner in the OP was interferring with F2 trying to tag him. The runner was not trying to advance to home plate and his sole intent was to crash the catcher, who was in the process of fielding the throw. JMO.

You envision the play differently than I do. The reason I asked for the cite from J/R is that I visualize the play as one which would get no call in a MLB game. And I think J/R supports that with the phrase: "......disregards his try to get to a base safely......". I think the runner was clearly trying to reach home plate.

It is a stretch to call this play a "tag attempt". A tag attempt requires the fielder to have the ball in his possession. In the OP, the ball arrives as R2 knocks down the catcher. Think of ARod slapping at the fielder on his way to first-- that's interference with a tag attempt.

ozzy6900, I don't think anyone here is confused by the phrase "offensive interference". It certainly didn't cause me to challenge canadaump6, who is after all only echoing J/R's terminology. In baseball, we have umpire interference, spectator interference, and catcher's interference. None of those are the responsibility of the offense.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Dave Reed

You envision the play differently than I do. The reason I asked for the cite from J/R is that I visualize the play as one which would get no call in a MLB game. And I think J/R supports that with the phrase: "......disregards his try to get to a base safely......". I think the runner was clearly trying to reach home plate.

It is a stretch to call this play a "tag attempt". A tag attempt requires the fielder to have the ball in his possession. In the OP, the ball arrives as R2 knocks down the catcher. Think of ARod slapping at the fielder on his way to first-- that's interference with a tag attempt.

I was mostly basing my opinion on the fact that the play occurred "six feet up the 3rd base line." I felt that the runner should have used other means to get by the catcher other than using flying elbows and a body block. One of the criteria J/R used was "assault the fielder." Sounded like a pretty good mugging to me!

[johnnyg08]

do we take into consideration that the runner had to alter his path? or do we consider that he could've altered his path and still scored just as quickly w/o having to go through F2?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

I was mostly basing my opinion on the fact that the play occurred "six feet up the 3rd base line."

I will point out that "six feet up the 3rd base line" is just outside (about 6")the edge of the batter's box, if measured from the spot where the foul line meets the plate. That's only about 1 stride (maybe just over) for a runner.

To be clear, I'm not disagreeing with the way you seem to be envisioning the play. I'm only pointing out that the OP hasn't been back to clarify.