Help with an interference call.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Simply The Best

Rich is confused.

Highly unlikely.

Originally Posted by Dave Reed

SLAS,

Do you have J/R? See See Ch 13, Section 6, Interference by an Offensive Teammate. The term offensive teammate includes retired runners. They say it is interference if the offensive teammate "blatantly and avoidably hinders a fielder's try to field a fair or catchable batted ball or thrown ball."

Rule 7.11 doesn't require a retired runner to instantly disappear from live ball territory. A retired runner who is struck by an errant throw may have interfered, or not. It depends on the situation and the actions of the retired runner. A retired runner who is retrieving a bat may simply be acting as he should. If so, it ain't interference.

You, and J/R, are indeed correct.

Originally Posted by Ump153

Perhaps about something, but not this call. He's nailed it. No one working professionally would call it any other way.

No one I know working amateurishly would call it any other way either.

Originally Posted by Ump153

Anybody stretching interference to include this play apparently has a need for attention.

ITA.

Originally Posted by Simply The Best

I am an amateur umpire, I could not care how the professionals might handle a FED rule call.

No rule set was specified in the OP, so the conversation began by a discussion of pro rules, and the J/R manual was referenced specifically. I don't recall anyone saying this was a FED play.

Most of us here professionally umpire amateur baseball. We aren't "amateur" umpires. I lost my amateur standing in 1986.