While I stand by this general distinction, there's a rule that says if a coach interferes in fair territory, it's automatically interference. (okay, I probably could write that sentence better).

I'd apply the same general philosophy to the play at hand.

I'm not assuming anything: on the contrary, I'm suspending belief about credibility here. Objectively, it seems much more likely that the throw was offline: that's far, far more common than offensive teammates going onto the field during play.

I've already agreed that this is a judgment call, and if the PU judges that the players were in fair territory it's an easy INT call. So I'm not sure what your point is there.

My point is to our colleagues on the forum: don't get talked into a bad INT call here by a coach who insists that offensive teammates may not be on the dirt circle. A bad throw into a crowd does not warrant INT.

As for the PU's explanation: sometimes in the heat of the moment we don't give the right answer. Took me a minute or two last weekend to come up with the expression, "malicious contact supersedes obstruction." His explanation was wrong, but understandable; and he might have another one today.

That's all I needed to hear. If you said that before, I missed it.

Or he's a coach and sees it the way he wants to see it. That happens, and I wouldn't call it lying. In the end, that's why schools hire us.

I can appreciate that, but there is other evidence as well:

1. The coach wasn't dumped.
2. The coach blamed his fielder (and not the umpire) for the runs
3. The explanation the coach asked for was entirely reasonable.
4. The explanation he received was not, but he didn't persist.

I know a great many coaches who would have reacted very differently.

Agreed 100%. When we have something goofy happen with a retired or just scored runner, we always have to consider (1) was there a play going on to interfere with? and (2 - more importantly) was the player doing what he's supposed to be doing.

In JM's example of "interfering" around 3BLX - the runner was doing what he's supposed to be doing (going to the dugout) and there was no play (since the throw passed the catcher, the scored runner was no longer interfering with the play at home plate). In the original play, he was NOT doing what he's supposed to be doing, therefore we have interference.

Prime example we see all the time is on an uncaught 3rd strike, the BR runs to first and accidentally kicks the ball. He was doing what he was supposed to be doing (going to first) and there was no intent to interfere, so it's nothing.

Objectively, it seems much more likely that the throw was offline: that's far, far more common than offensive teammates going onto the field during play.


If the throw were up the line I wouldn't have had a problem, I know the difference. It seems as if there is a presumption of guilt, and lack of objectivity by some of the posters. There are coaches who can be objective and listen to reason, just like there are umpires who will do the same. I was in no way rude to the umpire, I asked my question, he gave the answer and we moved on. The fact that I thought he was incorrect lead me here for additional clarification. I admitted to him on the spot that I did not know the specific rule that applied to this situation, it just seemed wrong. While I am certain I have not seen or coached as many games, as many of you on this board have seen or officiated, in the ones I have seen, I had never seen anything like this play that happened in this game. And the explanation that "he just scored" did not seem to do it justice.

Thanks for your help,


Popcorn
p.s. I have never been run in a baseball game, once in a basketball game, but thats a whole different story.

Easygoer, you need to understand that umpires are routinely questioned about what the call should have been in another game, and almost invariably the scenario is presented so that the questioner gets the answer he wants. Any experienced umpire would be careful answering such a question and would tend to err on the side of caution.

Personally, if I answer such queries, I always include the caveat that I can only give my opinion based on what was described, and that with judgement calls, the official that made the call may have seen things differently.

In your case, based on the description you gave, it does seem that this was likely interference. But we weren't there. And we don't know what the umpire saw.

Take it easy on them
 

The same scenario was discussed in the summer. The ball hit the bat held by the ODH and sailed into DBT. Most of the umps agreed to award R1 and B/R 2 bases for a ball thrown out of play. Sounds crazy, I know. Now it appears that no one read your OP before discussing the same ruling that was presented this summer.

After many pages on that old thread, the person who started the thread twisted the throw near the plate area to one that was offline drawing the catcher away from the plate. It occurs all the time around here. Apparently, this was enough to substantiate the no interference ruling for a large group of umpires on this website. Contact by offensive coach, player, and other authorized field personnel with a bad throw is grounds for a NO interference ruling.

I tried to point out that it may also have been ruled interference based of ODH's indifference to the play at the plate. The ODH's actions alone may have led to the interefence with a play at the plate. If one feels the ODH had a responsibility to avoid contact with a thrown ball that was live and in play (similar to a runner's obligation to avoid a live batted ball), he might agree with me. I stated this may also apply to basecoaches outside the coaching box. But the opinion of the board of directors was to treat the offensive personnnel as "part of the field" and ignore the obvious interference with any "thrown" ball.

I did want to point out that the defense did miss a play on a fly ball. Evans and Roder have a difference of opinion on the play and provide a different umpire interpretation as far as base awards from the Wendelstedt group and others here who support NO interference. I'll exit the discussion at this point.

This was incorrect. Int. would have been a just call for these two OTM's "intentionally choosing to not do" what the rules clearly say they must.

But one thing is true, it was not "obstruction"

Necessary
Available
Possible

Tell the PU to get the bat out of the way.

Careful w/ Plate Interference
 

Wouldn't that lead to an ejection?

A play at the plate has occurred where the action of the runner who scored, the "bat" boy, and the one who has come over to " base coach" the runner trying to score combined to block the plate umpire from clearly seeing a very close play at the plate. The PU had to literally shove a "teammate" out of the way before declaring his call.

Instant replay and rules regarding interference by the offensive team "behind" the play are not available to the umpire. The fact that the offense can and did block the sight of a plate umpire is just tuff nuggies.

Saw a play where a "big" runner slid into home plate first as the catcher was receiving the ball on the 3BLX. The catcher clearly saw a much faster trail runner racing to the plate and sliding right in behind the big guy. The catcher was shielded from applying the tag simply because the runner who scored stood up between them. Ruling: No interference.