R1 at 2nd moves for 3rd on the pitch, batter swings and misses, the catcher comes up firing and the ball hits the bat on the backswing and rolls to the backstop. HU calls batter out and R1 out for interference. Is this correct?
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No, per your description. It's nothing. Play on.
Since it hits the bat in the back swing, it is safe to assuem batter is still in the box, I agree with Forest, there is no inteference, play on, missed call by the Ump
The batter is out for interference, the runner returns (unless it was strike three, then they are both out). There is no "weak" interference in FED. The batter is responsible for his backswing.
Dash...I'm reading this as the throw from the catcher hit the bat after his swing came around. That's on the catcher. I agree with you if his backswing hits the catcher as he is trying to throw down to third ( fed only).
Here's the Casebook play for hitting F2:
8.4.1 SITUATION H: B1 swings and misses a pitch for strike three. As F2 is
attempting to catch the pitch, B1 hits F2 with the bat on the follow-through, hin-
dering F2’s attempt to catch the ball. RULING: B1 is out for interference.
Here's another one, which I believe dash is using to justify his ruling:
7.3.5 SITUATION F: With R1 on third, one out and two strikes on B3, B3
swings at and misses the pitch. The ball bounces off F2’s glove into the air, where
it is hit by B3’s follow-through. The ball rolls to the back stop. B3 reaches first
base safely and R1 scores. RULING: The ball is dead immediately. B3 is out for
interference and R1 returns to third base. A batter is entitled to an uninterrupted
opportunity to hit the ball, just as the catcher is entitled to an uninterrupted
opportunity to field the ball. Once the batter swings, he is responsible for his fol-
low-through.
As I recall, there have been some spirited discussions on umpire boards over the years as to whether this caseplay would apply to a batter who is still in the box, and whose bat is struck by a catcher's throw. I think it does, although I have no idea why FED doesn't have a concept of weak interference.
The batter is only responsible on his backswing if it interfares with the catchers fair opportunity to "field" the ball. For instance- if the backswing hits the ball or glove before he has caught it or as he catches it and prevents a runner from being thrown out then it is batters interfarance and he shall be called out. But, if the catcher makes a fair catch and then throws to any base but it hits batter or batthere is no interfarance as long as batter remains in his natural position in the batters box.
As I understand it... just being in the box is not the deciding factor. It is a judgement call by the ump... if the batter made no move that was out of the ordinary to intentionally interfere, then play on. If however the batter started up in the box then backed up into the throw of the catcher, then it would be interference. The deciding factor is if the action of the batter was deemed to alter the play of the catcher.