Batter Interference ?

[Spence]

I am not an umpire. I am not a fan of either team that played in this game. I know no one on either team so I come with no bias(just potential ignorance of the rule).

High school game.

R1 takes off on a steal attempt. Batter swings. Comes somewhat across the plate. F2 stands up but makes no attempt to throw - probably because the batter was in his way.

Is that enough for batter interference or does there have to be an attempted throw? What's the minimum you need to see from the catcher in order to call interference on a steal attempt?

Thanks

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by Spence

I am not an umpire. I am not a fan of either team that played in this game. I know no one on either team so I come with no bias(just potential ignorance of the rule).

High school game.

R1 takes off on a steal attempt. Batter swings. Comes somewhat across the plate. F2 stands up but makes no attempt to throw - probably because the batter was in his way.

Is that enough for batter interference or does there have to be an attempted throw? What's the minimum you need to see from the catcher in order to call interference on a steal attempt?

Thanks

You need a throw attempt for interference. The catcher does not have to let the ball go, but the umpire must be convinced there was an attempt to throw the ball.

[jicecone]

I once had a catcher stand up with the same type of scenario and afterwards tell me that, that was interference. I told him that we will never know that, because you may no attempt to throw the ball.

INTERFERENCE OBR
(a) Offensive interference is an act by the team at bat which interferes with,
obstructs, impedes, hinders or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play.

[jTheUmp]

FED ruling is the same as OBR.

Originally Posted by FED 76-4-5

Batter shall not:

ART. 5 . . . Interfere with the catcher's fielding or throwing by:

a. leaning over home plate,

b. stepping out of the batter's box,

c. making any other movement which hinders actions at home plate or the catcher's attempt to play on a runner, or

d. failing to make a reasonable effort to vacate a congested area when there is a throw to home plate and there is time for the batter to move away.