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18 replies

Batter Interference?

B BillBill100+ posts
Man one first. Left handed batter up with a right handed catcher. A batter swings at a pitch ball on the outside corner while the man on first steals. Catcher catches and prepared to throw down to second base. The batter comes out of the batters box during the swing and goes halfway (or more) across home plate, blocking the cathers ability to throw down to second. I think this should be batters interference.

Umpire said it wasn't because the hitter 'momentum' caused him to follow through and step out of the batters box. I say very, very bad call. What is the official verdict? I've never heard of this rule.

This was at a 17U travel ball tournament and the coach didn't raise a fuss. After an explanation play continued with the same batter batting and the man who was at first now on second.
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JMoffJMoff1,000+ posts
There are great umpires on this site who will answer better than I, but since I'm here I'll take a shot (more to test my growing understanding than anything else). To me this sounds like a classic "you had to be there" call.

If the batter interferes with the catcher, it's interference on the hitter. If he doesn't, it isn't. This sounds like garbage talk, but the batter has to actually interfere with the catcher's throw for interference to occur. Simply leaning out after a swing on an outside pitch does not consititute interference. If he swings and misses, his resulting body motion should be as expected by any other player who swings and misses at the same pitch on any other play.

The umpire has to decide if interference has occured and this is a judgement call...
Michael S. TaylorMichael S. Taylor1,000+ posts
If he steps out in front of the catcher and the catcher attempts or actually throws the it BI. If the out is made then no harm, no foul. If the out is not made on the initial throw then kill the ball, call the batter out and return the runner. Think about it, how often does a swing take a batter accross the plate without a runner stealing. Very, very seldom.
WklinkWklink500+ posts
Ok, I'll add this question just for my personal education.

We were at a 14U tourney, kid squared up to bunt. Runner on first.

The kid at first took off as the batter squared. Pitch was inside, batter pulled bat back and in the process nailed our cather in the ribs as he was catching the ball. It appeared that the hitter leaned back and pulled back at the same time, running his bat into our catcher's ribs.

Runner saw that the kid missed the bunt and retreated back to first. Our catcher actually caught the ball, tossed it back to the pitcher and then called time to get his wind back.

Nothing was called. I thought it was a good no call on anything but I wasn't sure if this was some sort of batter interference and if anything should have been charged to the hitter.
piaa_umppiaa_ump5,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Michael S. Taylor:
Think about it, how often does a swing take a batter accross the plate without a runner stealing. Very, very seldom.


This is always my thought when this occurs....the arguement from the OC is that his momentum carried the batter over the plate.....

Funny but that the only time momentum does that is when someone is stealing....
Jimmy03Jimmy031,000+ posts
Three most under-called rules violations, IMO:

Batter's Interference
Runner's Interference
Obstruction

All three require accurate rules knowledge, a view of the complete play from start to finish and reasonable judgment. Additionally, all three ususally occur while other responsibilities demand the umpires attention, e.g. ball/strike decision and call, safe/out decision and call.
GG Gold Glove100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Michael S. Taylor:
If he steps out in front of the catcher and the catcher attempts or actually throws the it BI. If the out is made then no harm, no foul. If the out is not made on the initial throw then kill the ball, call the batter out and return the runner. Think about it, how often does a swing take a batter accross the plate without a runner stealing. Very, very seldom.


How about strike 3 called, RH batter crosses plate in front of catcher but catcher doesn't make throw due to size difference (8-10 inches shorter). Ump would not make a call since C didn't throw the ball.

Different subject: can there be obstruction with no contact. Case in point, 1B cuts off batter as he rounds first, batter tries to go around but trips and falls. Ump said no contact, no additional bases awarded, sure double maybe even triple. What is the ruling?
yawetagyawetag100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Gold Glove:
Different subject: can there be obstruction with no contact. Case in point, 1B cuts off batter as he rounds first, batter tries to go around but trips and falls. Ump said no contact, no additional bases awarded, sure double maybe even triple. What is the ruling?


Contact is not required for OBS. HTBT on your situation. An umpire will protect a runner to the base he feels the runner would have achieved if the OBS had not occurred. By saying "maybe even triple," it would be hard for me as an umpire to have awarded it.

For future reference, start a new topic when you have a different situation. It makes it easier to find it later.

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