INT on a foul ball

[ozzy6900]

I would have never ruled that F3 had an opportunity on this play. F1 & F2 are right there and one of them would be protected.

[UmpTTS43]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

I would have never ruled that F3 had an opportunity on this play. F1 & F2 are right there and one of them would be protected.

Obviously because it ended up being a routine catch.

F2 is the last fielder protected. I believe the correct call was made. I would have ruled INT as well.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by UmpTTS43

Obviously because it ended up being a routine catch.

F2 is the last fielder protected. I believe the correct call was made. I would have ruled INT as well.

Um ... based on your OWN WORDS, calling int would be wrong. If you protected F2 - then the collision between runner and F3 is obstruction, not interference. (PS - Mr. Rolleyes... routine or not has nothing to do with this - if you really think it does, please ask this at your next clinic. What matters is - which fielder does the UMPIRE think is going to make the play? That fielder is protected, and no one else.)

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

I would have never ruled that F3 had an opportunity on this play. F1 & F2 are right there and one of them would be protected.

I dunno, ozzy. F2 definitely had the harder play (and the fact that he didn't make it confirms that) caused by the fact that F3 couldn't get to the ball. I stopped the video the moment F3 contacted R1, and at that moment, all three fielders were about equidistant from the point where the ball fell. So I don't think it's a stretch to say that F3 would have called F2 (and F1, for that matter) off to make the catch had R1 not hindered him.

This was definitely a dumb move by R1. He's lollygagging back to first base while holding his arm up in the air. Interference should have been called right then and there, IMHO.

Originally Posted by mbyron

Here's one of several errors made by the crew: if U1 calls R1 out for INT, why is he allowing play to develop? Why are we throwing the ball across the diamond? Isn't it DEAD on INT?

I'm not so sure U1 made that call right away. It was only after the crew got together to discuss it did they make that determination.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Manny A

I'm not so sure U1 made that call right away. It was only after the crew got together to discuss it did they make that determination.

He made the int call immediately (not seen in this video, but seen on others) - on this particular video, however, at about 12-13 seconds you can see he's already got a fist in the air before the ball is thrown to first.

In the other video, you can see him put his arm in the air at the point where they collide (looks more like and IFF signal to me) and he points several times at the runner, long before the ball came down.