Batter Interference??
 

Had a situation the other night that I think I called correctly but not 100% sure.

R2, pitch is in the dirt and rolling on the ground on the third base side of home plate. Right handed batter backs out of the batter's box, trying to get out of the way of the catcher but continues to move with the catcher making his life difficult to throw to third.

I'm positive that the batter didn't intentially interfere but his choice in direction to move certainly did interfere with the play on the runner.

Do we have batter interference? I called interference and of course had a conversation with the offensive coach with no one being ejected.

It is a HTBT sitch. As a general rule RHB need to stay in the box with R2 stealing or advancing. Catcher's are usually trained to throw behind batter and batter backing out of the box will draw an interference even on a straight steal. With a Wild pitch I hate giving the defense a break while the batter is trying to get out of the way but the batter should just stand his ground and let the catcher move him if necessary. Based on your post I think you made a reasonable judgment call.

+1

A batter in the box has a lot more leeway, so to speak, than one who has left the box. Sounds like INT to me, the way you describe this.

Is there a scenario where the batter does indeed stand in the box without moving and yet it could be interference on a steal/wild pitch? That's not a rhetorical question. I'm truly asking.

Not if the pitch is caught.

If the pitch rolls away from F2, and R3 tries for home, and the batter has an opportunity to move, then he could be guilty of "willful indifference" if he just stands in the box and interferes.