Tigers-Red Sox: Fan Interference?

[hbk314]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

Go to the board and write 100 times:

"Contact is not required for interference"


Then watch the video because there was. But if the ball is beyond the field boundary (face of the fence) then there cannot be fan interference by rule.

The contact to his arm came after he failed to catch it.

His knowing the fans are there and failing to catch it without them actually doing something to interfere doesn't make it interference, whether it had been in play or not.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by hbk314

The contact to his arm came after he failed to catch it.

His knowing the fans are there and failing to catch it without them actually doing something to interfere doesn't make it interference, whether it had been in play or not.

Write another 100 times: "Contact is not required for interference".

Forget the word "contact" even exists.

Was the play inhibited? Where was the ball at the time?

[hbk314]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

Write another 100 times: "Contact is not required for interference".

Forget the word "contact" even exists.

Was the play inhibited? Where was the ball at the time?

"Spectator interference occurs when a spectator reaches out of the stands and over the playing field, or goes on the playing field, and (1) touches a live ball or (2) touches a player and hinders an attempt to make a play on a live ball."

[EsqUmp]

Originally Posted by hbk314

"Spectator interference occurs when a spectator reaches out of the stands and over the playing field, or goes on the playing field, and (1) touches a live ball or (2) touches a player and hinders an attempt to make a play on a live ball."

True. But you must continue reading the rule book until you get to where the definition is put to use. That occurs at Rule 3.16. Read the commentary below it and you will see the following language "or otherwise interfering with a player." The "or" comes right after the word "touching."

Certainly, MLB is not going to allow a spectator to run onto the field, causing an outfielder to run around the spectator, only to miss catching the ball by an inch.

MLB allows for common sense interpretation and rule enforcement, rather than pinpointing 100% black and white language in every situation, like so many other codes.