Verbal Interference (FED)

[bisonpitcher]

Saw an interesting call over the weekend (I was not working this game). Bottom of 6th, bases loaded, home team down by 1 with 2 outs. Pop up straight behind home plate (about 60 feet of foul territory behind home plate). Catcher is running back toward backstop to try to field ball. There is a bench about 3 feet behind backstop. Lady is sitting there not really paying attention (texting or something), looks up and sees catcher bearing down on her and screams. Catcher alligator arms the catch and drops the pop up. PU calls verbal interference on the fan and signals the batter out. Fans go nuts. Lady (who actually was there supporting the catcher's team) never even realizes that the umpire called the batter out because of her. Home fans don't know what the umpire called at first, then get upset because the lady was not even their fan. I have never seen verbal interference called on a fan, although the wording of spectator interference rule in FED does not seem to exclude verbal interference. Certainly not a call I would make. Home team goes on to lose by 1 run. That lady still doesn't know that she was called for the interference. Opinions??

[David B]

Originally Posted by bisonpitcher

Saw an interesting call over the weekend (I was not working this game). Bottom of 6th, bases loaded, home team down by 1 with 2 outs. Pop up straight behind home plate (about 60 feet of foul territory behind home plate). Catcher is running back toward backstop to try to field ball. There is a bench about 3 feet behind backstop. Lady is sitting there not really paying attention (texting or something), looks up and sees catcher bearing down on her and screams. Catcher alligator arms the catch and drops the pop up. PU calls verbal interference on the fan and signals the batter out. Fans go nuts. Lady (who actually was there supporting the catcher's team) never even realizes that the umpire called the batter out because of her. Home fans don't know what the umpire called at first, then get upset because the lady was not even their fan. I have never seen verbal interference called on a fan, although the wording of spectator interference rule in FED does not seem to exclude verbal interference. Certainly not a call I would make. Home team goes on to lose by 1 run. That lady still doesn't know that she was called for the interference. Opinions??

I would call nothing. I don't see interference from a fan other than spectator interference.

Umpire must have been calling a game "over his head". Was this a HS game? You said FED.

Players that shave should be able to make that play no matter what someone is yelling etc.,

Thanks
David

[bisonpitcher]

Originally Posted by David B

I would call nothing. I don't see interference from a fan other than spectator interference.

Umpire must have been calling a game "over his head". Was this a HS game? You said FED.

Players that shave should be able to make that play no matter what someone is yelling etc.,

Thanks
David

8th Grade game actually. And even then, he was calling at a level "over his head". The spectator interference rule just says an act that impedes the progress of the game (not specifying physical or verbal).

[mbyron]

I wouldn't claim that verbal spectator interference is impossible in FED, but I don't think that was it.

[MikeStrybel]

It was a while ago, but I recall a story about a fan who pointed a laser at players and hindered the game. Apparently the stories of people who point lasers at pilots resonated with a spectator or two. Air horns have been banned at a number of places around here due to 'fans' who blast them during important at bats, etc.

[Simply The Best]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

It was a while ago, but I recall a story about a fan who pointed a laser at players and hindered the game. Apparently the stories of people who point lasers at pilots resonated with a spectator or two. Air horns have been banned at a number of places around here due to 'fans' who blast them during important at bats, etc.

Saw this one. Man sitting in bleachers with shirt off wearing some kind of oversized medallion. Shiny, reflective, found the batter's eye and the F2s. BU called a VINT, have no idea why and no one complained.

[DG]

Originally Posted by mbyron

I wouldn't claim that verbal spectator interference is impossible in FED, but I don't think that was it.

I think I would go there. Fans don't exist 99% of the time but never verbal FI.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by DG

I think I would go there. Fans don't exist 99% of the time but never verbal FI.

The FED definition of spectator interference does not rule out the possibility of verbal interference. Since FED explicitly includes verbal interference and obstruction for the players, I wouldn't be surprised if verbal spectator interference were also a legitimate category.

I agree that it would have to be something extraordinary -- beyond 99%.