R1 Interference

[Larry1953]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

The string theory might have been in vogue then but the current MLBUM says it's not valid for OBR. The consensus is valid by official interpretation.

FED does use the string theory. I think NCAA does too.

How in the world do umpires keep all the rule sets apart when they officiate at different levels? Imagine how hard it is for casual fans. It is not uncommon for a runner to be hit by a batted ball. It would seem to be in the best interest of baseball in general to have a unified rule/interpretation - one that puts the runner in jeopardy except in very limited exceptions as in current OBR manuals. This is how "myths" originate to a large degree.

[yawetag]

Originally Posted by Larry1953

It is not uncommon for a runner to be hit by a batted ball.

Five years of baseball and I've seen it once.

Originally Posted by Larry1953

It would seem to be in the best interest of baseball in general to have a unified rule/interpretation - one that puts the runner in jeopardy except in very limited exceptions as in current OBR manuals. This is how "myths" originate to a large degree.

I've always wondered, and this is a good place to ask, how different are the playing rules between levels (Youth, Fed, NCAA, Professional) for other sports? When I glance at other rule quizzes in Referee, it always says something to the effect of "Give answer for [several] rule codes."

[Larry1953]

Yawetag, the younger and less skilled the age group, the more bizarre and unusual the "OP's". In effect, a player's first exposure to such esoteric rulings on such things as botched IFFs, interference, obstruction, runner hit by batted ball, etc comes at the lower levels. Then things vary in different rule sets and umpire manuals as they get older. Consistency is a good thing.

[jicecone]

Originally Posted by yawetag

I've always wondered, and this is a good place to ask, how different are the playing rules between levels (Youth, Fed, NCAA, Professional) for other sports? When I glance at other rule quizzes in Referee, it always says something to the effect of "Give answer for [several] rule codes."

In Ice Hockey there many differences. Of course the gap has closed up significantly over the years, there is still a lot of differences in safety, penalties, offsides , icing, etc. There are basically USAHockey rules that cover both youth up to 18yrs and Juniors (18 & over), NFHS (High School), NCAA, NHL (with variations for AHL and many other Minor organizations. Like baseball, it is not uncommon for officials to mix up the rules sets in a game. So you do hear the occasional "don't you know the rules?" comment also. Unlike Baseball though there is a lot less stoppages of play and lull time. The unexpected happens more times that expected.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by jicecone

In Ice Hockey there many differences.

And in basketball, football and, I suspect, tiddly winks.

[greymule]

There are also those cases where two codes word the rule similarly but interpret it differently. I'm thinking of R2 stopping in front of F6 on a ground ball and then proceeding just before the ball reaches him. INT in Fed, nothing in OBR. However, you wouldn't know from reading the rule as written.

We also had that play a few years ago where A-Rod yelled at F5, causing him to misplay the popup. Again INT in Fed and nothing in OBR (though apparently Bruce Froemming claimed he'd call INT on such a play). And again you can't tell from the written rule.

I stopped doing Fed several years ago, but I did find the rules differences difficult.

[jicecone]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

And in basketball, football and, I suspect, tiddly winks.

When I get to the point of officiating tiddly winks Bob, I will for sure let you know.

[Larry1953]

Originally Posted by yawetag

Five years of baseball and I've seen it once.


I've always wondered, and this is a good place to ask, how different are the playing rules between levels (Youth, Fed, NCAA, Professional) for other sports? When I glance at other rule quizzes in Referee, it always says something to the effect of "Give answer for [several] rule codes."

Yeah, depending on level, it is somewhere between uncommon and rare. When it happens on the MLB level it seems to invariably bring about a discussion in the booth that the part of the rule that gives the batter credit for a hit should be changed...."a pitcher is going to lose a no-hitter one day because of that and then won't they be sorry it was written that way".

Doesn't it make sense that the "framers intent" was to have 99% of the cases result in the runner called out even if in many cases the batter would have had a hit? .... to the degree that the batter gets a "book rule" single?**Otherwise it would have made more sense to call it a FC with the put-out going to the nearest fielder.

** I think it was Nemec's book that explained how a cagey player for the Reds(?) maybe as recently as the mid-50's would simply field a grounder at R2 to prevent a 6-4-3 DP. So they had to change that part to rule the B/R out if it was intentional on the part of the runner.