interference question

[MJT]

We had this one today, and we were pretty sure we got it right. Batter is out of the batters box and down the line a foot or two and turns around and is walking back towards the foul line when the catcher makes a delayed throw to first base to pick off the runner. The throw hits the batter in the helmet and goes into to the dugout. We said since she was out of the batters box it was interference and she was out and the runner had to go back to first. 99% sure we got it right. Do you agree?

Now, if it would not have been interference, batter in the box and did not do anything wrong, the runner on first would get 2 bases cuz that is the base she was on when the throw was made. Correct?

[appswl]

Not all the information. I assume it was a foul ball or, was ther 2 outs and a droped third strike. Give us more exact info. How did you decide it was interference.??

[bluezebra]

If the ball were still alive, I've got nothing but a poor throw by F2. Ball goes into DBT, runner(s) awarded two bases. Unless the batter made a deliberate move to hinder F2's throw.

Bob

[MJT]

Originally Posted by bluezebra

If the ball were still alive, I've got nothing but a poor throw by F2. Ball goes into DBT, runner(s) awarded two bases. Unless the batter made a deliberate move to hinder F2's throw.

Bob

The ball was still alive. The batter did not make a deliberate move to hinder the throw, but did move after F2 caught it and was out of the batters box at the time of the contact. We got it right. Caseplay 7.4.4 states "B2 is entitled to her position in the batter's box and is not subject to interference unless she moves or re-establishes her position after F2 has received the pitch, which then prevents F2 from attemping a play on a runner." The runner was no longer in the box and her movement did prevent the catcher from making a play on the runner.

7.4.4 does not say you can have interference only if the batter made a deliberate move to hinder F2's throw, but does say what she cannot do. After finding the caseplay, we definitely got it right.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by MJT

We had this one today, and we were pretty sure we got it right. Batter is out of the batters box and down the line a foot or two and turns around and is walking back towards the foul line when the catcher makes a delayed throw to first base to pick off the runner. The throw hits the batter in the helmet and goes into to the dugout. We said since she was out of the batters box it was interference and she was out and the runner had to go back to first. 99% sure we got it right. Do you agree?

Now, if it would not have been interference, batter in the box and did not do anything wrong, the runner on first would get 2 bases cuz that is the base she was on when the throw was made. Correct?

I'm with Appswl, need more info. Why was the batter out of the box? Did something happen that caused the batter to leave the box.

Also, if the batter is down the line a foot or two and turns around, don't you mean she was walking back toward the plate, not the foul line she was already on?

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

I'm with Appswl, need more info. Why was the batter out of the box? Did something happen that caused the batter to leave the box.

Does any of that really matter? Doesn't the batter leave the batters box at risk of creating interference with a play? Unless standing in the batters box and not actively hindering, the only question I see is if there was a play that was interfered with.

Not sure I can think of a case where the batter had a reason to leave the batters box that exempted her from interference with a play(well, as long as the ball is still live).

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by AtlUmpSteve

Does any of that really matter? Doesn't the batter leave the batters box at risk of creating interference with a play? Unless standing in the batters box and not actively hindering, the only question I see is if there was a play that was interfered with.

Not sure I can think of a case where the batter had a reason to leave the batters box that exempted her from interference with a play(well, as long as the ball is still live).

Steve,

Just looking for info. From the clarification offered by MJT, it seems that this may have been a slapper based on where she ended up on the field after the swing.

Remember, this was a delayed action by the catcher. I don't think we can expect every LHB with a runner on 1B drop to the deck and wait for an "all clear" before attempting to return to her position. If that were the case, is it possible the catcher has been instructed to make a throw anytime the batter moves into a precarious position?

What I am searching for is evidence the batter did anything wrong. If there was time for the batter to swing at the pitch, move into the infield, turn and return near the foul line, that is one helluva delay for the catcher.

I just don't think there is enough here to say that the batter being struck with the thrown ball is automatically INT. Since MJT was there, I will obviously respect and support his call, but he is the one who raised a question. I'm just trying to note alternative views.

To the second part of his post, if there was not INT, yes, the runner would be awarded two bases.

[MJT]

So here is the next question. If the ball had not gone out of play with runners on base, if in doubt you may rule no INT. But since their was a runner on base and the ball did go OOPlay, we either have INT, and an out, or the runner advances 2 bases. IMO, if in doubt and you have to rule one of those 2 things, I am not giving 2 bases to the offensive team when if they had been in the batters box, there would not have been any contact and the ball would not have went in DB territory.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by MJT

So here is the next question. If the ball had not gone out of play with runners on base, if in doubt you may rule no INT. But since their was a runner on base and the ball did go OOPlay, we either have INT, and an out, or the runner advances 2 bases. IMO, if in doubt and you have to rule one of those 2 things, I am not giving 2 bases to the offensive team when if they had been in the batters box, there would not have been any contact and the ball would not have went in DB territory.

Except you make up your mind about the INT at the moment the INT occurs or doesn't; not seconds later when the ball goes OOP. If it's INT, the ball is dead before the OOP anyway.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by MJT

So here is the next question. If the ball had not gone out of play with runners on base, if in doubt you may rule no INT. But since their was a runner on base and the ball did go OOPlay, we either have INT, and an out, or the runner advances 2 bases. IMO, if in doubt and you have to rule one of those 2 things, I am not giving 2 bases to the offensive team when if they had been in the batters box, there would not have been any contact and the ball would not have went in DB territory.

I'm sorry, but that is wrong. It is not up to you to base your rulings on whether you want to award a runner(s) bases or not. If you think it is, you are doing the teams, game and fellow umpires a disservice.

Besides, unless you have a crystal ball telling you otherwise, you have no idea what would have happened had the batter been in the box.

[mcrowder]

Originally Posted by MJT

So here is the next question. If the ball had not gone out of play with runners on base, if in doubt you may rule no INT. But since their was a runner on base and the ball did go OOPlay, we either have INT, and an out, or the runner advances 2 bases. IMO, if in doubt and you have to rule one of those 2 things, I am not giving 2 bases to the offensive team when if they had been in the batters box, there would not have been any contact and the ball would not have went in DB territory.

You can't base this on what happens afterward - you can't be "in doubt" at all - either the Batter interfered or she didn't - it's not wise to wait to see what happened later before making your decision (or, even if the ball went OOP immediately, it's not wise to make that decision based on the fact that it went OOP).

[MJT]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

I'm with Appswl, need more info. Why was the batter out of the box? Did something happen that caused the batter to leave the box.

Also, if the batter is down the line a foot or two and turns around, don't you mean she was walking back toward the plate, not the foul line she was already on?

Ok, I'll try to clarify. I don't know why she was out of the box. Nothing caused her to be out of the box, she did after her swing. She was 3-4 feet up the line and 3-4 feet in fair territory, and was walking back towards HP, but mostly towards the foul line at the time she was hit.

AtlUmpSteve really nailed it with his last comment.