Simple question, but can't find answer

[Warren Willson]

Originally posted by bob jenkins

1) you might be right on coach's interference -- I've only had it a couple of times, and time has been called at the end of the play to explain / reinforce the call. IT might not be by rule, but as a practical matter, I think it hapens.

2) If the catcher's throw doesn't retire the runner, time is called to enforce the umpire's interference.

Yep, you're right about the umpire's interference. I looked a little harder and found OBR 5.09(b):

The ball becomes dead and runners advance one base or return to their bases, without liability to be put out, when -
(b)The plate umpire interferes with the catcher's throw; runners may not advance;

NOTE: The interference shall be disregarded if the catcher's throw retires the runner.

I should have remembered because I've actually called it once, a very VERY long time ago. I was the PU with R2 stealing when I called out the batter on a K2. The catcher must have thought that was 3 outs so he flipped me the ball and without thinking I caught it. It all happened so quickly that he realised what he'd done and tried to retrieve the ball from my hand while I was standing there dumbfounded. When his subsequent throw failed to retire the runner and I recovered my sensibilities I called "Time" and sent the stealing runner back for umpire's interference. Of course I should have dropped the ball immediately or simply let it bounce back off me, but I guess it was just a reflex.

When I replied to your post I had looked up OBR 2.00 Interference (c) Umpire's Interference and didn't look any further. JEA says that when they changed the rule in 5.09(b) they didn't change OBR 2.00 to match. Guess that's how I got misled.

Cheers