Catcher's Int on Illegally Batted ball
 

Just wanted to see what the call would be if there was an Illegally batted ball (foot outside box, or on plate Fed ) along with catcher's interference on the swing.

Enforce them both, which means batter to first and other runners advance only if forced or stealing.

Right: batter to 1B despite the illegally batted ball, since if he's out on the play the CI gets enforced.

And between the bat touching the mitt and the bat touching the ball, the ball is delayed dead. Probably the shortest delayed ball you will ever see.

I would enforce the batter's interference if it applied in this situation. If you enforce the play this way, you are by the same token saying it is perfectly alright stepping all the way across the batter's box to swing at a pitchout and make contact with the catcher's glove to be rewarded first base whether the batter strikes the ball or not.

The way you describe it, the batter gets the best of both worlds, irregardless of his actions.

Yeah, barely enough time to stick out your fist! :)

What if the batter's back foot were out of the back of the box, thus putting him closer to the catcher? I'll bet we have some different answers now.

Well, shame on the umpire for letting the batter start too deep, but I'd have the same ruling.

Kyle does mostly LL - where sometimes the kids stride back toward the catcher.

I do, and I've seen it. They'll start with a narrow stance in the back of the box, and when the pitch comes in actually step out of the back of the box. That's batter's interference, if they contact the glove, with a man on base, yes? If not, why not?

It's not. Reason: because you rule on each issue in the order in which they occur.

In this case, the catchers glove interferes with the batters swing before the bat makes contact with the ball. So you rule on that first. Catchers interference, delayed dead ball. The batter is awarded first only if the continuation of his swing fails to yield a base hit or better, which is what happens here when the batter strikes the ball while one or both of his feet entirely out of the box. So, award first base for the interference. Now the defense has a choice - accept the interference and take the award...or take the out. Guess which one they will take?

Keep in mind the batter is penalized for being out of the box only when he strikes the ball with his bat.

Chris,

Fixed it for ya'.

Apparently you had 3 thoughts jumbled. :rolleyes:

John

Bob FED only

What about an illegal bat?

In FED if the batter enters the box with an illegal bat = dead ball and an out.

In other words the CO NEVER happened IF the umpire noticed the illegal bat to begin with.

I do not see the logic when a player hits the ball illegally to begin with or an illegal bat and then getting first base because of the CO.

Pete Booth

If the batter steps out of the back of the box and then strikes the catcher with his bat, I'm grabbing the batter.

So in effect, you're saying it's perfectly legal for the batter to step anywhere he pleases to make contact with the catcher. Using this logic, I'm guessing you would consider it catcher's obstruction if the batter turned around and smacked the catcher in the head with the bat. Same theory applies. Sweeten the pot if the batter puts bat on ball. You can't call it any other way, now can you?

Time! You, first base. You, call an ambulance.

This thread is about stepping out of the batter's box and hitting the ball, not about using an illegal bat.

One of the codes has a specifc play on this, but I can't at this time remember which, or the specific ruling.

Duuuuuhhh!

Thanks JM

Steven and Dash - No. I am not saying that or considering the action you described as CI (CO in FED). Please allow me to clarify. What I am saying is if the batter makes an attempt to strike the ball and the catcher interferes I have CI first, then an out for his being out of the box. To your point, if I judge the batter to be stepping out of the box and deliberately striking at the catcher in effort to induce CI then I am not giving him the base.

A question or two....
 

Gentlemen,

In this case, how many times are we really going to see the batter out of the box before the INT by F2?

As a practical matter, how many times a year do any of us see the batter out of the box? How many times should we see it?

In short, if I have INT by F2, unless it is so blatant it can't be ignored, I am not seeing the batter out of the box. End of problem, unless it is one of those "career plays" (ones you see once an umpire's career).

I agree with this.

That said, the original question was what to do if we do see it.

And, the end result is often the same.

I probably call this 2 or 3 times each year, and it's always on the same type of play: a bunt. Usually it's on a bunt when the batter runs halfway to the mound before making contact; sometimes it's when the guy squares around so poorly that one of his feet is literally stationed behind the point of the plate when he makes contact. These situations are so obvious that it makes it easier to call it.