Rule 7.09 (b)

PeteBooth · #15 (**permalink**) Wed Aug 26, 2009, 11:05am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

We have a 3-2 count with two outs. Runner leads off third about 10 feet from the base and 10 feet foul. Batter hits a chopper, and the runner instinctively catches it and throws it to the pitcher. It never had a chance in hell of hitting the ground and going fair.

Would you enforce 7.09 (b) on this play?

7.09 It is interference by a batter or a runner when—
(b) He intentionally deflects the course of a foul ball in any manner

Interesting question.

On the surface it appears an EASY FOUL call, however, IMO it depends upon the field you are playing on.

I have seen balls 10 ft or so that one would think had no prayer of going Fair GO FAIR. In this one particular field the slope was REAL bad. The ball was rolling a good 10 - 12 ft FOUL and then hit the slope and went fair. Similar to a golf shot that hits an embankment etc. and instead of going into the ruff rolls onto the fairway.

The coach was screamimg at F5 "I TOLD YOU TOUCH THE BALL IN FOUL GROUND!

Therefore, if you are working on a BAD field and ALREADY had a ball in a previous inning look FOUL and go FAIR, then IMO you have good cause to invoke the interference call.

Generally speaking 10 ft or so FOUL is FOUL but again I believe non of us work at the plush stadiums in MLB.

The bottom line R3 has NO business touching a LIVE ball.

Pete Booth

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