Rule 7.09 (b)
 

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

No, but he should get a good butt chewing from PU and head coach. crap storm waiting to happened.

Depends on the level and how far foul it was. 10 feet foul? "Foul! You, don't touch a live ball."

At higher levels with the runner in a more usual position 3-4 feet foul, I might get him for INT.

Kevin,

As described, the only proper call on this sitch is "FOUL!".

JM

Nope

I have just a foul ball as long as there was no chance of it becoming fair. I'm guessing this call was made and the umpire called INT.

Well, it was 18-U Nationals wood bat, so it was college guys and some former pros who are supposed to know better.

I almost matched M Byron's to the word: "Foul! That ball's live; you don't catch a live ball."

The second baseman started pleading for me to rule it, and I told him that I wasn't going to rule interference on a ball that had no chance of bouncing fair. You'll love his retort: "But last week we got called out on the same play!"

I just said, "Not if it's 10 feet foul."

I'm glad it's not a letter-of-the-law type of rule to most of you guys, too.

Rule 7.09(b)
 

My reply: That was last week, this is today.

I love it. That was last week ... :)

A couple of times, when somebody complained that the last guy had them suffer a ruling that was wrong, or like in this guy's case, overkill, I said, "I'm sorry that happened."

Not on this play, but I have called it. Had a regional 14U tournament in Australia where R3 did that, and I banged him. The fact that the ball was less than a foot foul had a lot to do with it, though.

I just had this again!

And I didn't call it this time, either. And this time, it was about a yard from the line--first base this time. The guy was just as experienced, and just as clueless about this rule.

I am going to call this someday, but it'll be on one like Hokie described.

Wait a second....you mean R1 grabbed the ball? What was he doing in foul territory and not running on the batted ball? Why would he even be in foul territory under any circumstances? I am afraid I don't understand this one.

If you are talking about the 1st base coach, then it's not the same thing.:confused:

R1 on 3B? :-) FED language?

No, he said it happened at first base. I want to know how a runner at first base can interfere with a foul batted ball.

The only thing I can think of is that he was on the base and grabbed the ball while it was over foul territory

Then why wasn't he running?

no idea...maybe he knew the ball was foul and wanted to help out? no idea

Pretty close. Righty batter; little flair; looks foul; runner breaks back to first (first baseman was playing back); ball bounces (so I guess he thinks it's foul and dead?) and he steps up and reaches over and fields it about a yard foul and a yard toward home. Then he turns and tosses it to the pitcher.

I do and say nothing and no one says or does anything. Same partner as last week, and he puts his finger to his lips, as if to say, "Don't say anything."

from a league of their own,

it may have been a ball yesterday, it may be a ball tomorrow, but today its a strike!!

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

This first one was at one of the premium high school facilities. No chance of it going fair.

The other one, I don't know, but I still didn't call it, because it's a reach. I don't like reaching for calls.