Runner Interference

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by wmandino

The runners(all) are forced to advance once the ball was put in play. The rule book I have says nothing about only the BR and R1 being allowed to advance due to being forced. It say "runnerS" forced to advance. I read this as all runners in a force situation.

Read it how you want, but others have given you the correct interpretation. It means "runners forced to advance because the BR is awarded first." In the OP, that no longer includes R3.

[rbmartin]

STEP 1:

7.09 It is interference by a batter or a runner when-
(m) A fair ball touches him on fair territory before touching a fielder.....
PENALTY FOR INTERFERENCE:The runner is out and the ball is dead.

Step 2:

6.08 The batter becomes a runner and is entitled to first base without liability to be put out (provided he advances to and touches first base) when-

(d) A fair ball touches an umpire or a runner on fair territory before touching a fielder....

Step 3:

7.04 Each runner, other than the batter, may without liability to be put out, advance one base when-

(b) The batter's advance without liability to be put out forces the runner to vacate his base, or when the batter hits a fair ball that touches another runner or the umpire before such ball has been touched by, or has passed a fielder, if the runner is forced to advance;...

Step 4:

5.09 The ball becomes dead and runners advance one base, or return to their bases, without liability to be put out, when-

(f) A fair ball touches a runner or an umpire on fair territory before it touches an infielder including the pitcher, ...l; runners advance if forced;

[Rich Ives]

Read 2.00 Force Play. It has an example of the force being removed.

[UmpJM]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

Read 2.00 Force Play. It has an example of the force being removed.

+2

wmandino,

Of all the rules cited, Rich Ives pointed you to what you were missing.

Specifically, I believe he was referring to:

...Rule 2.00 (Force Play) Comment: Confusion regarding this play is removed by remembering that frequently the “force” situation is removed during the play.

Example: Man on first, one out, ball hit sharply to first baseman who touches the bag and batter-runner is out. The force is removed at that moment and runner advancing to second must be tagged. ...

Essentially, any time a following runner is called out for any reason, the force is removed at that instant for any preceding runners who had become forced by virtue of the batter becoming a runner.

JM