april asa clarifications

[ronald]

PLAY: With R1 on 3B and one out, B3 hits a ground ball to F3. R1 tries to advance home as F3 throws home and hits B3 who is running outside the three-foot lane. Do we have interference on B3 for not running in the three-foot lane?

RULING: B3 is not out for being out of the three-foot lane but could be called out for interference, if in the umpire’s judgment B3 committed interference. The three-foot lane only applies to the Batter-Runner when running to first base and the throw is to first base.

Rule 8, Section 2E: When the batter-runner runs outside the three-foot lane and, in the umpire’s judgment, interferes with the fielder taking the throw at first base….. However there could be Interference by the Batter-Runner if in the judgment of the umpire, the Batter-Runner impeded, hindered or confused the defensive player attempting to execute a play.
(Rule 1 - Definitions), or Rule 8 Section 7J [3] When a runner interferes:
1. With a fielder attempting to field a batted fair ball or a foul fly ball, or
2. With a fielder attempting to throw the ball, or
3. With a thrown ball.

So I have R1 on 3rd base and breaks for home on a batted ball to F3 by B3. B3 is about 2 feet inside the base line and 25 feet from home plate when the throw from F3 smacks her in the neck. B3 did not move into the ball.
ASA is saying we could have interference on this play. Is this how it has always been with this scenario? i am pretty sure Federation says it is not.

Ron

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by ronald

So I have R1 on 3rd base and breaks for home on a batted ball to F3 by B3. B3 is about 2 feet inside the base line and 25 feet from home plate when the throw from F3 smacks her in the neck. B3 did not move into the ball.
ASA is saying we could have interference on this play. Is this how it has always been with this scenario? i am pretty sure Federation says it is not.

Ron

Where is the interference? The BR is running to 1B. There is no rule forbidding the BR from being where s/he is running.

[ronald]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Where is the interference? The BR is running to 1B. There is no rule forbidding the BR from being where s/he is running.

I can buy that but then just what is the national office envisioning is interference cause they definetely say it can happen? The play they have listed is pretty darn generic and I could see someone arguing that the runner's position on the field impeded the throw, hence executing a play.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by ronald

I can buy that but then just what is the national office envisioning is interference cause they definetely say it can happen? The play they have listed is pretty darn generic and I could see someone arguing that the runner's position on the field impeded the throw, hence executing a play.

I think the point of the clarification is that the running lane and the batter-runner's location relative to it has nothing to do with this play.

This play would only be ruled interference if the B/R did something to interfere, not because she was out of the running lane....

[ronald]

Originally Posted by Andy

I think the point of the clarification is that the running lane and the batter-runner's location relative to it has nothing to do with this play.

This play would only be ruled interference if the B/R did something to interfere, not because she was out of the running lane....

Thanks Andy. You are hired as the NO's interpreter.

[Umpteenth]

Originally Posted by ronald

I can buy that but then just what is the national office envisioning is interference cause they definetely say it can happen? The play they have listed is pretty darn generic and I could see someone arguing that the runner's position on the field impeded the throw, hence executing a play.

This could be interference, if the BR changed course and ran into the throwing lane, thereby impeding the throw. If BR is running to 1st base and F3 throws the ball into BR, I got nothing but a bad throw.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by ronald

the throw from F3 smacks her in the neck. B3 did not move into the ball.

Then B3 did not interfere.