Three scenarios from this season

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by youngump

I'm certainly not missing that point. I just don't think it's super relevant to the discussion. If the ball is foul at the time of the interference then I think everybody agrees that we just have a foul ball (possibly with an out if it is still in the air).
The key question here is when is the BR out. I say they are out at the moment the ball gains status. Irish says the BR is out when they hit the ball. If he's right, then when the BR interferes with a fielder (while the ball is fair), we have interference by a retired runner and a double play.
If I'm right, then when the BR interferes, she is not yet retired and we only get a single out.
If the interference had been with the ball, there is a rule that implies only take one out. But it's silent for a fielder. But it seems to me the rules should treat those two situations the same.

The BR is out the moment it is declared fair. The ball (assuming it's over fair territory) is fair the moment of the interference. She is not a retired runner at the moment of interference.

(PS --- if she IS retired, then the out she supposedly prevented by interfering with the fielder catching the fly ball has already been recorded - you can't call the same person out twice.)