Interference @ Plate ?

[bd41flpk]

Thanks much for the rules clarifications.....

Let me start from the bottom up:

(3) Rules Supplement 13.G - spells the 'incidental contact' out perfectly !

(2) Rule 8-7-Q - It is quite clear that (no matter the time involved) if the defensive player has the ball PRIOR to the (crash flavor) contact by the offensive player and their is contact...the onus is on the offensive player to avoid contact - hence, this is definitely Interference.

(1) Rule 8-5-B The rule definitely describes the essence of OBS; so it would seem that the catcher w/o the ball has the onus of avoiding the offensive player. However; when I read Rules Supplement 36.B - I interpret some 'grey area' - '.....Not in the act of fielding a ball.....' In my scenario, the catcher is in fact 'in the act of fielding the ball'. Yet I believe that this was in fact changed a while ago? I do believe that this is OBS; yet this statement definitely leads to some questions?

Any help with this interpretation is appreciated.

[argodad]

Originally Posted by bd41flpk

However; when I read Rules Supplement 36.B - I interpret some 'grey area' - '.....Not in the act of fielding a ball.....' In my scenario, the catcher is in fact 'in the act of fielding the ball'. Yet I believe that this was in fact changed a while ago? I do believe that this is OBS; yet this statement definitely leads to some questions?

Any help with this interpretation is appreciated.

Not in the act of fielding the ball refers to fielding a batted ball. In the act of fielding a thrown ball does not protect the defense from obstruction.