Catcher's interference?
 

Can a catcher be guilty of interference if the batter doesn't swing? What if the catcher reaches his mitt against the batter's body while catching an inside pitch?

If the catcher jumped out in front of the plate and the batter thus didn't swing would that be catcher's interference?

A catcher cannot commit interference but a catcher can commit obstruction.

MTD, Sr.

This is baseball. In OBR and NCAA it's interference. In FED it's obstruction.

And this is semantics. However, when explaining to rookies and such the difference between INT and OBS, CI always gets brought up and explaining it the way the FED book does is actually a whole hell of a lot simpler.

So if it's only semantics then it's OK if a coach comes out calls obstruction interference - right? :D

It is, for me. I know what he's asking about and I would not correct him. I will use the correct term in my response -- including CI under OBR and CO under FED.

Me too. The more I have to say, the longer he is out there.

1. Yes.

2. Depending upon location of ball at the time and whether or not you determine that it interfered with the batters ability to attempt to hit it.

You can determine what you officially want to call it (interference or obstruction) after you determine if there is a violation of the rules.

And in softball, all codes that I'm aware of, including NCAA Softball, call it catcher's obstruction.

One of these days, OBR will get it right, and NCAA Baseball will follow suit. :D

On a FED test, I'll call it Obstruction. On the field, I call it Interference, and nobody has any question as to what I've got.

I have heard it called a moving pick.