Twins Interference @1st Base

[umpjim]

Originally Posted by UES

This IS interference for PRO & NCAA too!

Sorry for misleading everyone - looks like if the runner wants to be protected for leaving the runner's lane in his last stride, he must be in the runner's lane the entire way to 1st base.

Don't RH batters, for the most part, tend to run inside the foul line on ground balls in the infield????

They are taught to take the most direct route to 1B. It becomes a problem only when RLI comes into play and even then most times the throw is made inside/outside with no INT.

[tcarilli]

Originally Posted by UES

...Don't RH batters, for the most part, tend to run inside the foul line on ground balls in the infield????

Yes, but that doesn't exonerate them from possible RL violations. That's why the BR only needs to be within the lane over the last half, to give him ample opportunity to get within the lane.

[UES]

Thanks guys for setting me straight on this! Personally, I think the rule is for the better now than it was before because 9x out of 10, the B/R is INTENTIONALLY running inside the foul line to make it more difficult for the defense anyways.

[Publius]

Originally Posted by umpjim

At an Evans clinic a few years ago I got the impression that he felt the RL rule was an anachronism. So a difference in how he would rule might be possible.

With due respect to Jim (and he's due a LOT), I've inferred over the last 3-5 years that the rules committees at the highest levels of amateur and professional baseball, while finding his opinions worth considering, don't hold them in the same regard as "internet umpires" and his paying customers do, and certainly don't think he has the final word on anything.