On-deck Batter Hit by Thrown Ball

[Crabby_Bob]

Originally Posted by Tru_in_Blu

What was it exactly that the on-deck batter did to warrant an INT call?

Interfere with a thrown ball. On-deck batter doesn't have the same rights as a runner. OP states that there was no play so put runners back to the last base touched.

[Tru_in_Blu]

Originally Posted by Crabby_Bob

Interfere with a thrown ball. On-deck batter doesn't have the same rights as a runner. OP states that there was no play so put runners back to the last base touched.

Well, you didn't answer my question.

Suppose R1 attempted to go to 3B and F8's throw skipped by F5 and hit the coach in the coach's box. Has the coach committed INT?

[Crabby_Bob]

Originally Posted by Tru_in_Blu

Suppose R1 attempted to go to 3B and F8's throw skipped by F5 and hit the coach in the coach's box. Has the coach committed INT?

Are you equating a base coach to an on-deck batter?

[Tru_in_Blu]

That's 2 questions you haven't answered.

To answer yours: 8-6-16
Any coach or member of the offensive team, other than a runner...

So a coach, on deck batter, bat/ball shagger would all be considered "members of the offensive team".

An on deck batter is permitted to be out of the on deck circle to direct a runner attempting to score. In a sense, acting as another coach.

[Crabby_Bob]

Here's the entire 8-6-16b:

Any coach or member of the offensive team, other than a runner, interferes with a defensive player's opportunity to make a play. This includes, but is not limited to: b) A coach intentionally interferes with a thrown ball while in the coach's box, or interferes with a defensive team's opportunity to make a play on another runner.

My emphasis. The thrust of 8-6-16 does not require intent nor is it limited to subsections A-D.

You are correct that the on-deck batter may leave to direct runners advancing from third base to home. This brings the on-deck batter close to the play much like a base coach, except there is no coach's box.

Regarding the On-Deck Batter:

7-5-4 The on-deck batter shall not commit interference with the defensive team. Penalty 1. When the interference is with a thrown or pitched ball, the ball is dead and the runner closest to home is out. If no play is obvious, no player is out, but runners shall return to the last base touched at the time of interference. Penalty 2. When the interference is with a fair batted or foul fly ball, the batter is out. [...]

Intent is not required.

The OP stated: "With a runner at first base, the batter hits safely to center field. F8 overthrows F4. The overthrown ball rolls into foul territory near the on-deck circle and hits the on-deck batter. There is no obvious play on either runner."

The on-deck batter is normally in the on-deck circle doing warm-up stuff. The on-deck circle usually has near perfect vision of the field and the action. An on-deck batter paying any attention whatsoever would never get hit by a ball thrown from center field. It's simply incumbent upon the on-deck batter to stay out of playing action.
Yet, it happened to the OP's on-deck batter, a member of the offensive team. Suppose the ball deflects away in live ball territory and runners keep advancing. How many bases should they be allowed to take? All of them? None?

[Tru_in_Blu]

An on-deck batter paying any attention whatsoever would never get hit by a ball thrown from center field. It's simply incumbent upon the on-deck batter to stay out of playing action.

So the argument is that an inattentive on deck batter who is doing nothing but standing in the on deck circle and ends up being hit by a deflected or off-line thrown ball has COMMITTED an act that warrants an INT call.

Sorry, not buying that. But with proper rule citation, I could be convinced otherwise.

If the on deck batter actually DOES something like bends over and picks the ball up or kicks it, then we have something to rule on. By your logic, the coach should never be hit by a thrown ball because s/he should be paying close attention and also has a clear view of the entire field.

[Crabby_Bob]

Originally Posted by Tru_in_Blu

[COLOR="Red"][snip] By your logic, the coach should never be hit by a thrown ball because s/he should be paying close attention and also has a clear view of the entire field.

I don't think so. The statement above completely disregards the proximity of the base coach to the action, all of it: the base, fielders, runners, and a throw. It is his JOB to direct the runners. The base coach is also specifically absolved of interference with a thrown ball unless intentional.

The rule (7-5-4) and penalty has been cited several times. I believe it correctly anticipates and applies to the situation OP presented.

The case play literature is silent on this in several codes. All that remains is to agree to disagree. Peace.

[ETA] This discussion brings up something I haven't seen addressed anywhere. What protections, if any, from interfering with a throw does an on-deck batter have when legally directing runners advancing from third to home?