Interference

[Robmoz]

Originally Posted by Manny A

Rule 5-1-1m says it's an immediate dead ball when a runner hinders a fielder trying to catch a foul fly. Immediate means, well, immediate.

When a runner runs into a protected fielder trying to field a fair fly ball, we don't hesitate slightly to make sure the fielder could have made that catch. Why should a foul ball be any different?

Don't get me wrong. I would prefer to hesitate. But that hesitation equates to a delayed dead ball, and the rule doesn't call for that here.

Hmm, seems like hesitation would be required if the foul fly ball was at or approaching DBT... which, if it was DBT, then no longer a foul ball, which would negate any interference, no ?

...unlike a fair ball situation which immediacy is more apparent.