Interference / Blocked Ball / Nothing
Situation: R1 on 2B, R2 on 1B. No outs. B3 hits a grounder to F6, who fields it cleanly and steps on 2B for the force out. B3 is a fast runner, and there's no chance of a play on him. R1 is a slow runner, so F6 turns and throws to F5 covering 3B. However, R2, who is now out, is heading towards his dugout on the 3B side when he is hit with the throw. The umpire judges that R2 did not deliberately attempt to block the throw.
Is it nothing (keeping the ball live)? Do you have INT? Or could you call a blocked ball, and if so, would you send R1 back to 2B? |
Normally, it would be nothing, but I think you HTBT. I'm having a hard time visualizing how R2 could get positioned so that F6 could hit him with a throw to 3B.
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INT, R1 is ruled out. Though allowed to continue one's running tasks, this isn't what R2 was doing and has an obligation to NOT get involved in any subsequent play. 8.7.P. Pretty much the same as the recently cited play where a fallen retired runner, even though still in what was his basepath stands up and is hit with a throw in an attempt to make a play on another runner. |
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I would say this is a HTBT sitch. Like Dave said, it would depend on how much time elapsed and if R2 had a chance to react and get out of the way. But I know one thing, if it's judged that R2 didn't INT, the BU will definitely catch hell from the defense and prepare for an interesting discussion with their coach/manager.
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The offense cannot have it both ways. The defense should not be required to read the minds or body language of the opponent. The runner cannot go poof when they are doing what they are supposed to do, hence the protection at that point. What they are supposed to do is try to advance toward the base, not turn out one way or the other. |
Yes, by proceeding from being out on the way to 2B to somewhere between 2B and 3B, the runner committed an "act," however unintentional, that caused him to interfere.
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