Skip to main content

During 2 recent game sumpires have ruled that the batter interfered with the catchers throw to 3rd to try and catch a base stealing attempt.

Both times the batter (same player amazingly) just stood in the box, did not move after the pitch, he honestly didn't even see, or know, the catcher was throwing, both times the throw hit the bat.

In one game the ump ruled the batter was out, in another game the ump rules the runner was out?!

I argued that the batter has the right to the box and did not interfere. Obviously if the batter intentionally moved to block the catcher it would be a different story. The ump said it was his discreation on the call, I asked "where is the batter supposed to go"? Under the umps rules catchers could throw into the batters helmet/bat/body and the batter would be out everytime.

This seems like Baseball 101 to me and the ump is wrong, batters have to make an attempt to move out of the way of a picth but not on a throw to a base by the catcher as long as they stay in the batters box.

Any help or specific citing of the rule that applies would be apprecaited.
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

I'm not sure if you're playing unber Major League rules or not but generally speaking, if the catcher makes a attempt to throw out a base runner and the catcher makes contact with the batter, in most cases the umpire will call the batter out, and make the runner return to the previous base. This however dosen't mean that the catcher needs to drill the batter but simply show that he was unable to make the throw to the base by making even light contact with the batter. It is incorrect to call the runner out however, just the batter should be out, and the runner should return to the previous base.

6.06
A batter is out for illegal action when --
(a) He hits a ball with one or both feet on the ground entirely outside the batter’s box.
Rule 6.06(a) Comment: If a batter hits a ball fair or foul while out of the batter’s box, he shall be called out. Umpires should pay particular attention to the position of the batter’s feet if he attempts to hit the ball while he is being intentionally passed. A batter cannot jump or step out of the batter’s box and hit the ball.
(b) He steps from one batter’s box to the other while the pitcher is in position ready to pitch;
(c) He interferes with the catcher’s fielding or throwing by stepping out of the batter’s box or making any other movement that hinders the catcher’s play at home base. EXCEPTION: Batter is not out if any runner attempting to advance is put out, or if runner trying to score is called out for batter’s interference.
Rule 6.06(c) Comment: If the batter interferes with the catcher, the plate umpire shall call “interference.” The batter is out and the ball dead. No player may advance on such interference (offensive interference) and all runners must return to the last base that was, in the judgment of the umpire, legally touched at the time of the interference.
If, however, the catcher makes a play and the runner attempting to advance is put out, it is to be assumed there was no actual interference and that runner is out—not the batter. Any other runners on the base at the time may advance as the ruling is that there is no actual interference if a runner is retired. In that case play proceeds just as if no violation had been called.
If a batter strikes at a ball and misses and swings so hard he carries the bat all the way around and, in the umpire’s judgment, unintentionally hits the catcher or the ball in back of him on the backswing before the catcher has securely held the ball, it shall be called a strike only (not interference). The ball will be dead, however, and no runner shall advance on the play.
(d) He uses or attempts to use a bat that, in the umpire’s judgment, has been altered or tampered with in such a way to improve the distance factor or cause an unusual reaction on the baseball. This includes, bats that are filled, flat-surfaced, nailed, hollowed, grooved or covered with a substance such as paraffin, wax, etc.
No advancement on the bases will be allowed and any out or outs made during a play shall stand.
In addition to being called out, the player shall be ejected from the game and may be subject to additional penalties as determined by his League President.
Rule 6.06(d) Comment: A batter shall be deemed to have used or attempted to use an illegal bat if he brings such a bat into the batter’s box.
Thansk for the information.

But my question remains:
Where is the batters supposed to go to avoid intererence and how can see the catchers movement behind him, the catcher may move inside the foul line to throw or outside the foul line?

Under 6.06 (c) the key words are " by stepping out of the batters box" (he stayed within the box) and "or making any other movement that hinders the catcher's paly at home base" (the batter stood still after the pitch, ie no 'movement').

This rule applies if the batter makes an intentional attempt to interfere with the catcher, not if the batter stays within the box and does not move.
This is a tough situation. The bottom line is the batter has a right to his position in the box. Stepping out of the box is a risk since once he gives up position in the box and the catcher touches him the correct call is interference regardless of the intention of the hitter. What makes this even tougher is it is a judgment call by the umpire - which for many is a coin flip at best. Any movement by the hitter can be interpreted as interference if touched by the catcher. This rule should is poorly written and the umpires, for the most part do a poor job of interpreting it.

Add Reply

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×