Can some quote the rule about the 45' running lane as it pertains to batter interference. ie catcher has to throw the ball, catcher has to make a quality throw etc, etc.
Both fed & obr rulings?
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OBR:
6.05(k) In running the last half of the distance from home base to first base, while the ball is being fielded to first base, he runs outside (to the right of) the three-foot line, or inside (to the left of) the foul line, and in the umpire’s judgment in so doing interferes with the fielder taking the throw at first base, in which case the ball is dead; except that he may run outside (to the right of) the three-foot line or inside (to the left of) the foul line to avoid a fielder attempting to field a batted ball;
Rule 6.05(k) Comment: The lines marking the three-foot lane are a part of that lane and a batter-runner is required to have both feet within the three-foot lane or on the lines marking the lane. The batter-runner is permitted to exit the three-foot lane by means of a step, stride, reach or slide in the immediate vicinity of first base for the sole purpose of touching first base.
From the wording of the rule, the fielder with the ball has to throw it and it has to be of quality. The rule states the BR has to interfere with the one receiving the throw at 1B, not the throw itself. He has to prevent F3 (in many cases) from receiving the ball. A throw at BR's feet can be ruled as uncatchable by F3 and therefore, no INT. And, BR can't interfere if no throw was made b/c who know why F2 (or whoever has the ball) didn't throw it. Maybe, he didn't have a grip on it. And, a throw 15 feet in the air can't be interfered with since it isn't catchable.
6.05(k) In running the last half of the distance from home base to first base, while the ball is being fielded to first base, he runs outside (to the right of) the three-foot line, or inside (to the left of) the foul line, and in the umpire’s judgment in so doing interferes with the fielder taking the throw at first base, in which case the ball is dead; except that he may run outside (to the right of) the three-foot line or inside (to the left of) the foul line to avoid a fielder attempting to field a batted ball;
Rule 6.05(k) Comment: The lines marking the three-foot lane are a part of that lane and a batter-runner is required to have both feet within the three-foot lane or on the lines marking the lane. The batter-runner is permitted to exit the three-foot lane by means of a step, stride, reach or slide in the immediate vicinity of first base for the sole purpose of touching first base.
From the wording of the rule, the fielder with the ball has to throw it and it has to be of quality. The rule states the BR has to interfere with the one receiving the throw at 1B, not the throw itself. He has to prevent F3 (in many cases) from receiving the ball. A throw at BR's feet can be ruled as uncatchable by F3 and therefore, no INT. And, BR can't interfere if no throw was made b/c who know why F2 (or whoever has the ball) didn't throw it. Maybe, he didn't have a grip on it. And, a throw 15 feet in the air can't be interfered with since it isn't catchable.
anyone have fed rule?
16. The running lane should enter an umpire’s decision-making process only when the ball is being fielded to first from behind the runner.
17. The lines are part of the lane. A batter-runner is legally in the lane if he is hit by the throw while his left foot is touching the foul line or his right foot is touching the running-lane line.
18. If the batter-runner is hit with one foot on the ground and one foot in the air, the umpire must judge where the foot would have landed. If it would have come down outside the lane, interference is the call.
19. The quality of the throw should help determine whether or not interference has occurred. If the throw had no chance of retiring the runner, the umpire should not call interference.
20. The batter-runner must leave the running lane the last step before reaching the base. When he is hit at that moment, te umpire should not call interference.
Play 1: With no outs R3 is on third and R2 on second when B1 strikes out on a pitch that gets away from the catcher. F2 throws the ball to the pitcher covering home for an unsuccessful attempt to tag out R3, who scores, as R2 takes third. Meanwhile, B1, who has been directing traffic at the plate, gets a belated start and heads for first. F1’s subsequent throw to F3 now plunks B1 in the back. B1 was not in the lane. Ruling: B1 is out for interference. R3’s run counts, and R2 remains at third.
17. The lines are part of the lane. A batter-runner is legally in the lane if he is hit by the throw while his left foot is touching the foul line or his right foot is touching the running-lane line.
18. If the batter-runner is hit with one foot on the ground and one foot in the air, the umpire must judge where the foot would have landed. If it would have come down outside the lane, interference is the call.
19. The quality of the throw should help determine whether or not interference has occurred. If the throw had no chance of retiring the runner, the umpire should not call interference.
20. The batter-runner must leave the running lane the last step before reaching the base. When he is hit at that moment, te umpire should not call interference.
Play 1: With no outs R3 is on third and R2 on second when B1 strikes out on a pitch that gets away from the catcher. F2 throws the ball to the pitcher covering home for an unsuccessful attempt to tag out R3, who scores, as R2 takes third. Meanwhile, B1, who has been directing traffic at the plate, gets a belated start and heads for first. F1’s subsequent throw to F3 now plunks B1 in the back. B1 was not in the lane. Ruling: B1 is out for interference. R3’s run counts, and R2 remains at third.
quote:Originally posted by thecloser:
anyone have fed rule?
There is some recent controversy regarding the FED rule. There is a POE for 2010 (or a clarification, I don't recall which), which says the throw need not hit the B/R for INT to be called.
Generally, the new POE has been interpreted to mean that if the B/R is out of the lane (but between F2 and F3), and the catcher sails it 10 ft. over F3's head, the B/R is presumed to have interfered with the throw (the throw must come from the area behind the B/R). In other words, a "quality throw" is not required for a running lane violation.
However, at least one highly-respected poster on another forum has reported that Elliot Hopkins (NFHS Rules Committee) said in a teleconference to certain state rules interpreters, that any throw results in a RLV if the B/R is out of the lane. So if the B/R is running in foul territory (outside the lane), and F2 fields the ball in fair territory and his throw drills the B/R, INT is the call even though F3 had no chance at it. That is just crazy.
My state interpreter was not aware of the interp. issued by Mr. Hopkins, so until I am instructed to do otherwise, I will call INT only if the B/R is out of the lane, AND generally between F2 and F3 (or whoever is covering 1st base) AND a throw is made.
Personally, I thought the rule was very clear until FED "interpreted" it up.
In Fed you are judging the catcher's ability to throw the ball. In OBR, you are judging the F3's ability to catch the throw. Many umpires were not making the distinction between the two and were not enforcing the throw properly, so Fed decided to fix it. If the BR is out of the lane and F2 airmails the ball into right field, you have a runner's lane violation.