An Even Number of Umpires Making the Call

[RKBUmp]

I guess my question now is, did F3 ever intend or attempt a play on the batter/runner or was the play strictly to home? The rule says to delay or avoid a tag, if F3 never attempted to play on the batter/runner and was always throwing to home Im not seeing where this is interference.

[teebob21]

Originally Posted by RKBUmp

I guess my question now is, did F3 ever intend or attempt a play on the batter/runner or was the play strictly to home? The rule says to delay or avoid a tag, if F3 never attempted to play on the batter/runner and was always throwing to home Im not seeing where this is interference.

In my judgment, yes. F3 was closing the distance to tag the standing-still BR when she noticed the R1 coming in to score. F3 was so close to the BR when she threw that I couldn't believe she was giving up on the easy out...I got caught ball-watching a little bit for the play at the plate, then noticed the BR had moved back with the throw.

Edit: The point of the post was to figure out what the wisdom of the crowd said about the calling responsibility. The way it unfolded I think it would have been clear to other umpires that the BR was delaying her approach to 1B to avoid the tag/put-out and allow R1 to score. This, of course, was completely legal until she stepped back toward home plate. It's hard to communicate all the nuances of that happened in those 2 seconds in text online.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by teebob21

In my judgment, yes. F3 was closing the distance to tag the standing-still BR when she noticed the R1 coming in to score. F3 was so close to the BR when she threw that I couldn't believe she was giving up on the easy out...I got caught ball-watching a little bit for the play at the plate, then noticed the BR had moved back with the throw.

Edit: The point of the post was to figure out what the wisdom of the crowd said about the calling responsibility. The way it unfolded I think it would have been clear to other umpires that the BR was delaying her approach to 1B to avoid the put-out and allow R1 to score. This, of course, was completely legal until she stepped back toward home plate. It's hard to communicate all the nuances of that happened in those 2 seconds in text online.

Based on these words alone, this is not INT.

By your own words, at the moment the batter-runner moved backward, F3 was attempting a throw, not a tag. "Delaying her approach to 1B" is completely legal (heck ... it's good baserunning).

[jmkupka]

If backing up without a tag attempt were INT, a heads-up BU could do it if she saw her teammate from 3B was about to be thrown out at home. Worst that could happen would be runner returns to 3B (less than 2 outs of course )

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

Based on these words alone, this is not INT.

By your own words, at the moment the batter-runner moved backward, F3 was attempting a throw, not a tag. "Delaying her approach to 1B" is completely legal (heck ... it's good baserunning).

Looks like the crux is " the BR had moved back with the throw"; which seems to mean a tag was not being attempted.

Back to the mechanics question, I believe the BU has primary responsible for most of BR; but the OP implies pretty close to HP, like a swipe tag in the first half of HP to 1st is usually the PU call.
Of course, as said " see it, call it" for INT or OBS.

BTW, not necessarily a NCAA answer.

[azbigdawg]

To answer the OP... I may have stepped on your toes, but it was right in front of me. So if we got it wrong by the book it is my fault. But we looked damn good on that call.

[teebob21]

Originally Posted by azbigdawg

To answer the OP... I may have stepped on your toes, but it was right in front of me. So if we got it wrong by the book it is my fault. But we looked damn good on that call.

Yeah we did. Also, I am stealing your method for making calls like this: "THAT batter is OUT. (pointing) YOU: 3rd base." Amplifiers cranked to 11.

[Tru_in_Blu]

Originally Posted by teebob21

Yeah we did. Also, I am stealing your method for making calls like this: "THAT batter is OUT. (pointing) YOU: 3rd base." Amplifiers cranked to 11.

As opposed to what OTHER batter?