Only in Little League

[Bishopcolle]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Play on, McDuff. Errant throw by catcher. Did the false BR interfere with F3's ability to catch the ball? I'll answer this: NO. Why is F2 throwing to a now unoccupied first base? The play is at second base. Where's the interference. Sorry, don't see it.

Agree...well said....the batter's error in running down the base path DOESN'T interfere with a throw by the catcher. It's simply a bad throw by the catcher. We can't reward bad defense by the scenario in the OP.

[GA Umpire]

Originally Posted by Bishopcolle

Agree...well said....the batter's error in running down the base path DOESN'T interfere with a throw by the catcher. It's simply a bad throw by the catcher. We can't reward bad defense by the scenario in the OP.

The OP said the ball hit the batter while out of the box. As soon as that happened, then he has INT with the play. It doesn't matter if F3 caught it still. The contact just had to slow it down a little. And, the OP said F2 was trying to pickoff R1. That is a play on R1 and not trying to retire the batter(who is not a runner).

So, once the batter came out and got hit with the throw, he has INT with it regardless if F3 could catch it. He INT with F2's play on R1 at 1B. That is INT and batter is out with R1 going back to 1B. The OP said R1 is now on 2B after the batter INT with the throw (ball hit the batter while out of the box while trying to make a play at 1B).

[Bishopcolle]

Originally Posted by GA Umpire

The OP said the ball hit the batter while out of the box. As soon as that happened, then he has INT with the play. It doesn't matter if F3 caught it still. The contact just had to slow it down a little. And, the OP said F2 was trying to pickoff R1. That is a play on R1 and not trying to retire the batter(who is not a runner).

So, once the batter came out and got hit with the throw, he has INT with it regardless if F3 could catch it. He INT with F2's play on R1 at 1B. That is INT and batter is out with R1 going back to 1B. The OP said R1 is now on 2B after the batter INT with the throw (ball hit the batter while out of the box while trying to make a play at 1B).

Read the OP. The catcher caught ball 3 (mistakenly thought to be ball 4) and the batter ran toward first base. The catcher (without any interference by the batter) threw toward first and hit the batter in the back...doesn't say how far down the line he was, but he hit the batter in the back....that is not INT, it is a bad throw by the catcher....plain and simple

[johnnyg08]

How can you say it was a bad throw simply because it hit the batter? I've seen some pretty good throws hit runners before and it has nothing to do with being poor defense.

As politely as I may ask on here...how much baseball have you played? Based on this post, R1 is probably going to be picked off 1B if the batter isn't running down a path he doesn't belong impeding the F2's ability to execute a play. (based upon the OP)

What if the hitter starts walking toward the mound on a stolen base attempt...maybe he thought it was strike three and he's walking out to his position?

Mr. Bishopcolle, I can't grasp that you can with a straight face say that you wouldn't call INT on this play as it's described in the OP.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

As politely as I may ask on here...how much baseball have you played? Based on this post, R1 is probably going to be picked off 1B if the batter isn't running down a path he doesn't belong impeding the F2's ability to execute a play. (based upon the OP)

I've played about as much ball as anyone else here, and I disagree that it's INT. That's what debate is about. Not everyone shares the same viewpoint. How do you figure F2 would pick off the runner? He has just demonstrated that he doesn't know how to throw by hitting the batter in the back. They aren't playing rounders or kickball, you have to throw around a person's body, not through it. F2 should have taken a crow hop into the cutout and fired the ball, not tried to drill the ball through the batter's body. A competent catcher would have found a way to get the ball to F3 without nailing the batter.

[TussAgee11]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

How do you figure F2 would pick off the runner? He has just demonstrated that he doesn't know how to throw by hitting the batter in the back.

Do you say the same thing about a catcher who gets INT by a batter on a throw to third? WHAT IS THE BATTER DOING THERE!? He has no right to INT with any play the catcher is making.

I'd have to be there, but if I felt that F2 was making a legit play on R1, then I don't see how we don't have INT. If F2 was being one of those LL catchers who throws to 1st base after a walk, then I have nothing.

Vision it this way SDS - LHB takes a step towards his 1st base dugout to toss the bat to the dugout after ball 3. Catcher rightfully steps behind the batter to throw behind R1, but has to alter his throw because of batter's presence. This seems to be clear INT.

Would have to be there to see the speed and timing of the whole thing. I can vision this happening a BUNCH of different ways at the LL level, all resulting in a different call. Interesting play...

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

Do you say the same thing about a catcher who gets INT by a batter on a throw to third? WHAT IS THE BATTER DOING THERE!? He has no right to INT with any play the catcher is making.

Different situation entirely.

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

I'd have to be there, but if I felt that F2 was making a legit play on R1, then I don't see how we don't have INT. If F2 was being one of those LL catchers who throws to 1st base after a walk, then I have nothing.

How did he interfere with a thrown ball? Intentionally? If not, no INT. Just a bad throw by the catcher.

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

Vision it this way SDS - LHB takes a step towards his 1st base dugout to toss the bat to the dugout after ball 3. Catcher rightfully steps behind the batter to throw behind R1, but has to alter his throw because of batter's presence. This seems to be clear INT.

You are visioning it as you would like it to be, which alters the OP. This batter had taken off running. He was not interfering with F2's throwing the ball. He was hit by a thrown ball.

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

Would have to be there to see the speed and timing of the whole thing. I can vision this happening a BUNCH of different ways at the LL level, all resulting in a different call. Interesting play...

There ya go!