Batter Interference

[Kleff]

Hey guys had situation the other night. Runner on 1st and 3rd 1 out. Passed ball runner from 3rd attempting to score. Cathers throw to the plate hits batter. I'm out in the field, plate umpire makes no call except runner from 3rd is safe. I ask for a meeting with plate umpire and tell him I believe we have interference on the batter. He asks "what do you mean" I replay the play to him and he agrees the batter interfeared. So I tell him I'm not 100% on this but I believe since there is less than 2 outs runner on third is out and runner from 1st which is now on 3rd goes back to 1st? He says I think runner would have been safe so I'm not calling the interference. I told him you only disregard the interfrenece if the runner is out! So we make no call on interference! No coaches or players screamed or anything, but, I dont think they new what really happened I have to believe plate umpire is wrong on this. What do you guys think???????

Kleff

[Ump153]

Originally Posted by Kleff

I ask for a meeting with plate umpire and tell him I believe we have interference on the batter.
Kleff

This is where things went wrong.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Kleff

Hey guys had situation the other night. Runner on 1st and 3rd 1 out. Passed ball runner from 3rd attempting to score. Cathers throw to the plate hits batter.

What was the batter doing? Did he have a chance to move?

(And, I agree, you should only provide input on this play if asked.)

[JJ]

If the batter has time to vacate the area, he better vacate the area. I've even yelled that at him ("Get out of the way!"). I can sell interference a lot better if he's still standing there and, in my judgement, interferes with the play. Of course, there's always that bad throw from the catcher that hits that batter....but that's another post.

JJ

[jicecone]

I agree, provide information and if your partner chooses not to make the call, there is not much you can do except explain the rules to him after the game, because he made both of you look bad.

Then again, not having been there, it is kind of difficult to understand if the batter was in the way of the throw or the catcher just had a bad throw.

[Kleff]

The only reason I asked for a conference with plate umpire, was initially someone from the defensive team yelled "is'nt that interference". Plate umpire looked to me like he did'nt understand why. He actually started walking out to me. Well anyway the batter was about 3 feet outside the batters box down the on the 3rd base side. Runner from 3rd probably would have been safe,but it still would have been close enough to call

[RPatrino]

Kleff, did the plate guy ask for your input by calling time and motioning for you to talk with him? I mean, maybe he was looking at you wondering what you were up to? If not, stay where you are!!
How did that batter interfere with the play from where he was standing? IF the catcher could get an interference call by plugging the batter with the ball they would do it everytime, no?

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by Kleff

The only reason I asked for a conference with plate umpire, was initially someone from the defensive team yelled "is'nt that interference". Plate umpire looked to me like he did'nt understand why. He actually started walking out to me. Well anyway the batter was about 3 feet outside the batters box down the on the 3rd base side. Runner from 3rd probably would have been safe,but it still would have been close enough to call

Where did the PB go?

Was the batter in the line from the catcher to the pitcher covering or did the throw suck?

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by Kleff

The only reason I asked for a conference with plate umpire, was initially someone from the defensive team yelled "is'nt that interference". Plate umpire looked to me like he did'nt understand why. He actually started walking out to me. Well anyway the batter was about 3 feet outside the batters box down the on the 3rd base side. Runner from 3rd probably would have been safe,but it still would have been close enough to call

So what you are saying is if someone yells "That's not a strike!" you are going to request a meeting with your partner?

Here's my answer as an umpire evaluator & trainer.

Your partner did not ask for help. Keep your mouth shut and move on.

[jicecone]

Originally Posted by Kleff

The only reason I asked for a conference with plate umpire, was initially someone from the defensive team yelled "is'nt that interference". Plate umpire looked to me like he did'nt understand why. He actually started walking out to me. Well anyway the batter was about 3 feet outside the batters box down the on the 3rd base side. Runner from 3rd probably would have been safe,but it still would have been close enough to call

OK, based upon the limited information you have supplied here, the batter is approximately 7 feet from home plate where the play is taking place and the catcher hits him. Bad throw. Go back to the "C" position.

[Tim C]

Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Kleff

Hey guys had situation the other night. Runner on 1st and 3rd 1 out. Passed ball runner from 3rd attempting to score. Cathers throw to the plate hits batter. I'm out in the field, plate umpire makes no call except runner from 3rd is safe. I ask for a meeting with plate umpire and tell him I believe we have interference on the batter. He asks "what do you mean" I replay the play to him and he agrees the batter interfeared. So I tell him I'm not 100% on this but I believe since there is less than 2 outs runner on third is out and runner from 1st which is now on 3rd goes back to 1st? He says I think runner would have been safe so I'm not calling the interference. I told him you only disregard the interfrenece if the runner is out! So we make no call on interference! No coaches or players screamed or anything, but, I dont think they new what really happened I have to believe plate umpire is wrong on this. What do you guys think???????

Kleff

There are 2 relevant issues here:
1. Did the batter interfere with a play at the plate?
2. What is the penalty if he did?

Issue 2 is easy to answer: with less than 2 out, the runner trying to score would be out (and the other runner would return).

Issue 1 is harder to answer because the correct answer depends on many factors. But whether the runner "would have been safe" is NEVER a criterion for determining interference.

If the batter had time to move out of the way and F2 made a quality throw and the batter's movement interfered with the play at the plate, then I'd rule INT.

OTOH, if he was away from the plate area and not on a line between F2 and the plate and the throw hit him, I would say that he had not hindered the play. Then the call would be no interference, live ball, play on.

Interference calls are very difficult to rule on without video or a very comprehensive account of the play.

I agree with other posters that the mechanics described in this play were incorrect.

[yo...blue...]

Food for thought...

1. As the Plate Umpire, if you think the batter may wind up involved in the play, in one way or the other, do you toss him out of the way? Or do nothing?

2. As the Base Umpire, if your certain of interference on this play, do you call it right away, even if your partner misses it? If your partner calls it, do you echo it?

3. Is there an order of importance between proper mechanics and rules knowledge? Or is it just a matter of "get-it-right"? My opinion... somebody with rules knowledge, but no mechanics training, cannot effectively umpire(Tim McCarver). Somebody with proper mechanics training, but poor rules knowledge, can generally get by longer.

4. What the heck is "the c-slot"? This should be fun for all you perverts.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by yo...blue...

Food for thought...

1. As the Plate Umpire, if you think the batter may wind up involved in the play, in one way or the other, do you toss him out of the way? Or do nothing?

2. As the Base Umpire, if your certain of interference on this play, do you call it right away, even if your partner misses it? If your partner calls it, do you echo it?

3. Is there an order of importance between proper mechanics and rules knowledge? Or is it just a matter of "get-it-right"? My opinion... somebody with rules knowledge, but no mechanics training, cannot effectively umpire(Tim McCarver). Somebody with proper mechanics training, but poor rules knowledge, can generally get by longer.

4. What the heck is "the c-slot"? This should be fun for all you perverts.

Originally Posted by Highest Quality

Let the players play.



A great question, one that may depend on your relationship with the PU, your own credibility and expertise as well and your ability to explain your "overcall" when questioned.

Entirely dependent on the level of baseball i.e. the level of baseball umpiring knowledge of the players and coaches.





Ah, The Scent Of Women.........

All of your answers are equally as full of crap as the questions he asked. Are you two one and the same? Or cousins?

[Welpe]

Steve I think that is a safe assumption. Mr. Multiple Personalities must've returned.