Question on stealing in ASA....

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally posted by IRISHMAFIA

Not everything is in the rule book. This is an interpretation from members of the NUS.

As I said, you could SELL interference, but I've been told not to do it.

Now, if the runner is already well on his/her way and the batter interferes with the pitched ball, yeah, I might call the INT.

Casebook Play 7.5-2
(SP only). Batter is in the batters box. The pitched ball is thrown and the batter reaches out and catches an inside pitch.

RULING: The ball is dead when touched by the batter. The umpire shall call the pitch a ball or a strike (7-5E, 7-4I).

Casebook play 7.6-15
(FP, SP with stealing) A batter reaches up to catch an inside pitch as a base runner attempts to steal.

RULING: The ball is dead. This would be a form of interference on the batter who is called out and the runner is returned to the base occupied at the start of the pitch (7-6P, 8-7C).

Looks like Bob and Bernie were overruled on this one.