Batter Interference Question - Educate Me

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by mbyron

If you were PU, why weren't you watching the batter? You have no runner responsibility.

The short answer to your question is: watch for interference. The batter standing in the batter's box ain't it.

Exactly what I was going to say. You have to stay with the ball which is in F2's possession right now. That was your mistake.

What do you look for?

• Was the batter where he was supposed to be? He just swung at or took a pitch, he cannot just disappear.
• Did the batter make any move (in your opinion) to intentionally block F2 from doing his job? This is self explanatory and don't go looking for trouble here.
• Did the batter have the time needed to vacate his position? In a squeeze play, the batter has little time to do anything but stand there and that is not interference.

You took you eyes off the play (to look at R3) so now you know to stay with the ball until the ball takes you to a play.