batter's interference

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by timeout

Had this come up last nite at meeting.
Runner on third, no outs, catcher throws to third in attempt to pick off runner.
1. Throw hits batter while she's in the box....nothing, live ball, play on.
2. Throw hits batter after she stepped out of box.

What are the penalties, if any in #2?
Also, if possible, could you site a case play .

Thanks.

Speaking ASA

#1
Assuming instantaneous play: If the batter is just recovering from a swing and not doing anything out of the norm, it is just a DMC
Assuming a delayed throw: Pretty much same as above unless there is an unanticipated move, even if unintentional, by the batter. In that case, it would be a dead ball, could be INT, the batter would be ruled out and any advancing runners return to the base occupied at the time of the INT.

#2
This is INT. The ball is dead, the batter is out and all advancing runners return to the base occupied at the time of the INT.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

This is INT. The ball is dead, the batter is out and all advancing runners return to the base occupied at the time of the INT.

Usually. Probably almost always... but not always. I can think of twice where this was not true in actual play.

1) Pitch came inside, batter bailed without falling, and was about 2 steps behind the box. Catcher did not field cleanly and the ball rolled a bit left. Catcher then drilled the batter in the helmet - there was no chance of the batter avoiding the throw.

2) Pitch came out of the catcher's glove rolling toward the batter. Batter danced to avoid the rolling ball, moving toward 3rd. Catcher picked up the ball barehanded and Tekulve'd the ball right into batter's leg.

This is why I asked for more information on the OP.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

\
1) Pitch came inside, batter bailed without falling, and was about 2 steps behind the box. Catcher did not field cleanly and the ball rolled a bit left. Catcher then drilled the batter in the helmet - there was no chance of the batter avoiding the throw.

Okay, I will admit the possibility of a no call is there, but it is possible. Remember, it is the batter's responsibility to avoid getting involved in a play. If the batter was just standing there, I agree, no INT. However, if the batter moved and was hit, even if the intention was to get out of the way, and I'm confident the catcher was throwing to the base, not at the batter's head, that is most likely going to be ruled INT.

2) Pitch came out of the catcher's glove rolling toward the batter. Batter danced to avoid the rolling ball, moving toward 3rd. Catcher picked up the ball barehanded and Tekulve'd the ball right into batter's leg.

Same as above.

This is why I asked for more information on the OP.

Gotcha and there is no doubt that an INT call is almost always HTBT since many scenarios lose one or two things in translation.

[rwest]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

1) Pitch came inside, batter bailed without falling, and was about 2 steps behind the box. Catcher did not field cleanly and the ball rolled a bit left. Catcher then drilled the batter in the helmet - there was no chance of the batter avoiding the throw.

I have argued this for a while now with some of my fellow ASA Umpires. Their position was that this is interference. I have always argued that the batter was doing what she should do, which is avoid being hit, and that if she does not actively hinder the catcher, we have a live ball and a DMC.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by rwest

I have argued this for a while now with some of my fellow ASA Umpires. Their position was that this is interference. I have always argued that the batter was doing what she should do, which is avoid being hit, and that if she does not actively hinder the catcher, we have a live ball and a DMC.

DMC? More like DMP. If she buzzes the batter, that's on her.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by rwest

I have argued this for a while now with some of my fellow ASA Umpires. Their position was that this is interference. I have always argued that the batter was doing what she should do, which is avoid being hit, and that if she does not actively hinder the catcher, we have a live ball and a DMC.

"actively hindering" only applies in the BB. And that would be there if it wasn't for a certain Ute.

Even out of the BB, if the batter does something as simple as straighten up into the area where the catcher was going to throw the ball, that is INT. There is some onus on the batter to be aware of the situation.

[NSABill]

I have been accused of being too sensitive.
The ump above is correct thought.
Umpires are inherently very egotistical and sometimes on this board old fuddy duddies that do not have a lot of patience.

We are all brothers (I hope). Maybe sisters. (Do not want to get blasted for being incorrect). That has happened before when I used the term fellas.

Lighten up Francises.

[BretMan]

Originally Posted by rwest

I have argued this for a while now with some of my fellow ASA Umpires. Their position was that this is interference. I have always argued that the batter was doing what she should do, which is avoid being hit, and that if she does not actively hinder the catcher, we have a live ball and a DMC.

A slight tangent here...but I posed a question about this play in a thread last month (inside pitch forces the batter out of the box, then the batter is hit by the catcher's throw).

Batter Interference?

[EsqUmp]

No one expects a batter to simply disappear. That's isn't logical and it isn't implied as necessary by the rule book.

No one ever seems to realize that by a right-handed batter stepping out of the batter's box (either over the plate or back out of the box), the batter is almost always opening up a better throwing lane down the 3rd base for the catcher. Where is the catcher and where is the throw coming from that a batter gets in the way more OUT of the box than IN it?

It would most likely be the result of a terrible pitch that drove her/him out of the box and then R2 decided to steal 3rd base. There aren't too many attempts to steal 3rd base in higher level ball. I would have a hard time almost "rewarding" the defense for a terrible pitch. Just a thought...

[rwest]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Speaking ASA

#1
Assuming instantaneous play: If the batter is just recovering from a swing and not doing anything out of the norm, it is just a DMC
Assuming a delayed throw: Pretty much same as above unless there is an unanticipated move, even if unintentional, by the batter. In that case, it would be a dead ball, could be INT, the batter would be ruled out and any advancing runners return to the base occupied at the time of the INT.

Why could be? You say the ball is dead. Why did you kill it? Is there some other reason than INT you would kill the ball in this scenario? If you don't think it was INT wouldn't you allow the play continue? Wouldn't this be a live ball?

The only time I'm killing this is if I deemed it INT.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by rwest

Why could be? You say the ball is dead. Why did you kill it? Is there some other reason than INT you would kill the ball in this scenario? If you don't think it was INT wouldn't you allow the play continue? Wouldn't this be a live ball?

The only time I'm killing this is if I deemed it INT.

could = would; or place that portion of the sentence at the beginning. Whatever, if I've killed the ball and ruled the batter out, it was INT.