Interference? Maybe!

[WestMichBlue]

ASA Rules

Situation 1: batted ball rolling just outside the 1B line, F3 comes down line to field ball and collides with B-R before F3 reaches ball. What is your call?

Situation 2: batted ball rulling just outside the 3B line, F5 comes down line to field ball and collides with R1 who is attempting to get back to 3B. What is your call?


Rule 8.2.G: B-R is out when the B-R interferes with a fielder attempting to field a batted ball. Sitch 1: B-R is out for interference.

Rule 8.7.j 1 & 2: The runner is out when the runner inteferes (1) with a fielder attempting to field a batted fair ball, or (2) with a fielder attempting to field a fly ball over foul territory. Sitch 2: foul ball?

Would you have called these two plays different? Why are they different?

If we check the definitions we find that Interference is the act of any offensive player (could be B-R, could be runner) interfering with a fielder (doesn't say with ball over fair or foul territory, on the ground or in the air).

One of the definitions of Foul Ball (D) says that if the ball is over foul territory when interference is called on a runner. (Doesn't say B-R). Of course, one of the definitions of Fair Ball is written the same, except that ball is over fair territory.

It seems to me that one of these two rules (8.2.G or 8.7.j) is wrong. Either we call interference on any offensive player when the ball is live, whether or not it is over fair or foul territory - or we don't call interference when the ball is on the ground over foul territory.

WMB