Why Wasn't This Interference?

[jicecone]

Originally Posted by Manny A

Seems to me your trying to guess why LaRoche went into foul territory. One could equally assume that he went into foul territory to avoid getting plowed into by the BR, who made no attempt to veer away from LaRoche as LaRoche approached the ball.

Suffice it to say this could have gone either way, and I would have chosen to give the defense the benefit of the doubt here.

Really Manny! Why do you insist on inserting yourself into the game. Thats like saying I will call the runner safe because I know he can run faster than that.

Nobody comes to the games to watch you umpire!!!

[bluehair]

Originally Posted by Manny A

So, it's your position that the fielder has to make a bonafide attempt to get to the ball and not avoid a collision? How does what LaRoche did not qualify for being hindered or impeded?

You do see it a lot. Groundball to F6 or F4. Defenders could charge the ball and create contact and get the interference easily. Instead, they do yield to the runner and field the ball after they pass. You don't see interference called on these kind of plays...doing so would be OOO above kiddie ball level.

In this play, F3 couldn't get to the ball before BR passed. If he was a step or two closer he could have gotten to the ball in fair territory and had a play. I think F3 just gave up on it. One could possibly see interference, but I wouldn't bail out the defense out on that effort.

[UES]

Originally Posted by bluehair

...You don't see interference called on these kind of plays...doing so would be OOO above kiddie ball level.

Amen! It goes back to what I posted earlier - don't take the sh!tty end of the stick...especially at the higher levels.

[bob jenkins]

I would not have interference on this play. I think F3 gave way "too soon" -- that is he chose to go into foul, he wasn't forced to do so by the runner's actions.

[Publius]

Originally Posted by Manny A

So, it's your position that the fielder has to make a bonafide attempt to get to the ball and not avoid a collision? How does what LaRoche did not qualify for being hindered or impeded?

Yes, that's my position.

If you don't try to field the ball, I'm not going to say you were impeded in trying to field the ball. When you have the right to your position and you cede it unnecessarily, I'm not going to bail you out.