Umpire Interference 7-31-09 Hou @ STL

[jwwashburn]

Baseball Video Highlights & Clips | HOU@STL: Pudge hurts his thumb on contact with ump - Video | MLB.com: Multimedia

Ya don't see this one every day. Did he call INT because he felt bad that Pudge hurt his hand? I don't think that was Ump INT-Hoever, I will bet that there will be differing opions

[Kevin Finnerty]

I think that if you don't think you'll be able to follow through on a throw, you might change your release point. So it's conceivable that it changed his throw, which makes interference a consideration.

So, I'm only mildly differing, I guess.

[TussAgee11]

The only thing I would wonder is why he did not open the gate more and watch to where Rodriguez needed to go to get to the ball, and potentially make a play. If he had fully opened the gate, seen where the ball was, he would have known to take a few steps back with pudge as he retrieved.

Thoughts on this part of it?

[Bishopcolle]

I don't feel that is UMP INT...no way!!!!!!!!

[johnnyg08]

Without being in PU's shoes, I can't say for sure, but the camera angles don't have me calling umpire interference. We rarely see PU take a knee on a play like that. Maybe he felt like he got in Pudge's way or something like that...it doesn't appear he called INT on his follow through...I think somebody else pointed that out as well.

[GA Umpire]

I don't have INT. F2 got the throw off and it was a bad throw. Too bad. But, maybe, one of the others felt that F2 did change something b/c of the PU. That would be my only guess b/c PU can't make that call. He is looking at the ground. So, I would think it had to be another umpire and probably 3B umpire since he has the best view of it all.

But, I don't think it was INT. Umpire judgment on that one since it could be argued that F2 altered his throw b/c of PU.

[mbyron]

The clip doesn't show a ruling. Do we know INT was the call?

[RogersUmp]

It doesn't look like he even knows he's there until he hits him after the throw.

[whistleone]

INT was the call and the runner was sent back to second base. The next pitch went to the backstop and the runner advanced safely.

[SAump]

Originally Posted by RogersUmp

It doesn't look like he even knows he's there until he hits him after the throw.

Watch Pudge's feet . He takes about 3 small steps into the umpire before he released the ball. The umpire may have not been aware of his location between F2 and F5, but he does affect the player's throwing motion. Simple interference.