Fan interference and a speedy runner
 

hi,

i need a little help with that. R1, 3-2 count, 1 out.
R1, a pretty fast runner, is going with the pitch becuause he thinks that there are already 2 outs. the ball is hit into deep RF. the Rf leaps and tries to make the catch, but a fan interferes. the speedy R1 is already half way between 3B and home plate.
the umpire rules fan interference ! in his mind the RF would have caught the ball.
but what about R1 ? would you call him out because he would have no chance to get back to 1B in time ?

thanks in advance

You can do whatever you think would have happened without the fan interference.

The three most obvious choices seem to be:

a) Call R1 out becuase he wouldn't have made it back to first.
b) Put R1 at first because he would have made it back.
c) Give R1 second because he would have tagged up and advanced.

I think I would go with (a) based on the OP. He would have to be really fast to out run the throw. Unless he wants to force the defense to appeal the other bases properly.

In general, I'm allowing R1 to return to 1B.

In the OP, since R1 is so close to home (and, if he's thinking there's 2 outs, probably going to touch HP), I would call R1 out as well.

The situation is going to have to be as obvious and extreme as the OP for me to get 2 outs on this play.

Bruno,

This is a sitch where you can be god. You can do what ever you feel will nullify the interference.

How does it feel?