Batter Interference
 

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

This is where things went wrong.

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.)

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. :rolleyes:

JJ

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.

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

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?

Where did the PB go?

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

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.

Why would the plate guy be wondering what I was doing???? I was in the c slot. Plate guy started walking towards me in the c slot, that is when I called time and asked him to talk. the conversation took place closer to the c slot than home plate. By him coming out that far I figured he was looking for imput. The PB went toward the 3rd base side batter was deffinetly in the way of throw. The catcher was throwing towards home plate.

If he wants help he'll ask.

If the coach asks you, you tell the coach to talk to the umpire that made the call.

Hey guys I think you totally misunderstood what was being asked! I was looking for rule clarification not umpire mechanics! I am well aware of when to ask for help and when to give help. Instead of bashing an umpire give your understanding of the rule. If your clueless on the rule just admit it. Anyway I got call back from an umpire of 40 plus years who actually knows the rulebook, not a few clowns on a forum who think they know the rule book. He says without seeing the play it sounds like interference under rule 7.09 c. Now I know better to just wait for a callback from a umpire with rulebook knowledge rather than posting to this forum!

~Cripes~
 

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

Obviously you don't know as much about proper decorum on the field as you think you do. You said you asked for a meeting with your partner to tell him what you thought he should have called. There are a few shared responsibilities in two man mechanics, but this isn't one of them. No one is bashing you here. They're trying to teach you something.


Tim.

So it's not just on the basketball forum that new guys will post here and expect to be able to dictate the direction of the thread? That's good to know.
The pattern holds form here, too.
1. New guy posts a question.
2. Question gets answered and more advice is provided than was asked for.
3. New guy defends himself against the added advice.
4. New guy comes back and denegrates officials (umpires) who offered said advice.
5. New guy stomps off with his feelings hurt.