Interference by retired runner?
 

FED game. R1, 1 out. B1 lays down a bunt, is thrown out at first by 2 or 3 steps, then attempts unsuccessfully to dislodge the ball from the glove of F3. R1 has already rounded 2nd at the time of the contact. How should this be ruled?

Same as you would if the interference was by a non-retired runner:

Ball becomes dead immediately.
Retired runner is out (of course, he was already out, but still).
If, in your judgement, the interference prevented a double-play on R1, R1 is also out.
If the interference did NOT prevent a double-play on R1, R1 returns to second base.

5-1-1e

Define "rounded" ... do you mean rounded and heading to third with a full head of steam? I have an out - definitely a possible play here by F3. If rounded means, took a couple steps around 2nd and began slowing, as if to return to 2nd, I have nothing.

In this case (as in most interferences), you must have a PLAY for there to be interference with a play. Interference with nothing is a dead ball, but still nothing.

+1

I would be somewhat lenient about what constituted a "play" in this interp, but the general idea is correct.

I would also address the sportsmanship issue here.

Yessir: in FEDball this is one of two things that constitute the very definition of "Malicious Contact". BR is OUT and done [EJ].
And if I can see a "play" on another runner and not embarass myself, I'm getting that 2d out; but most of the time there is not gonna be a play that passes the grin test.