8-4-F and 8-7-J-5 vs. POE #32

[greymule]

8-4-F

Runners are entitled to advance with liability to be put out . . . when a fair batted ball has been touched by an infielder, including the pitcher, and the runner did not intentionally interfere with the batted ball or the fielder attempting to field the batted ball.

The bold part was added to the 2003 rule book. Before that, it required that no fielder had a chance to make an out.

8-7-J-5

The runner is out when the runner interferes intentionally with any defensive player having the opportunity to make an out with the deflected batted ball.

The bold part was added to the 2002 rule book. Before that, it said, "If a ball ricochets off one defensive player and any player has the opportunity to make an out, the runner will be ruled out."

POE #32

When a runner is hit by a fair batted ball. . . . It is interference if the batted ball ricochets off one defensive player and any player has the opportunity to make an out.

It appears to me that POE #32 was not revised to reflect the rule changes that made intent a requirement for interference by (1) a runner being hit by a deflected batted ball and (2) a runner interfering with a defensive player attempting to field a deflected batted ball.

Case play 8.8.42 deals with a runner colliding with the shortstop on a deflected ball. The ruling is that unless the interference is intentional, it a live ball, no interference.

None of this conflicts with case play 1.74 or the play Mike posed in the now-closed thread (unless we consider a ball that bounces off F4's chest a deflected ball).