MLB Runner's Interference

Good call. Davidson protected F5 on the play and the runner impeded his attempt on the ball.

Runner obviously altered the fielder's play. Appropriate call.

The angle of the clip makes it difficult to be sure there was interference. 3B was moving left and had he charged the ball and made contact withe R2 then it is an easy call. From this clip it looks as though 3B chose to play the ball from behind the runner so where's the interference? From the angle the clip shows it is not conclusive enough to concur with the call. The umpire was in good position so he gets benefit of doubt here.

First, as we all know, contact is not required for interference. Second, I believe if you watch the action of F5 closely you will see he has to adjust his timing and steps due to the runner. And third, I believe you can see the runeer intentionally stutter steo or dealy slightly which helpe creat the problem.

Fairly easy call, but not one always called.

I just looked at the clip again and there was not hesitation rather Escobar veered inside to avoid the fielder. Sure contact/intent is not required for Rule 7, however if he does contact him he will certainly make a better case for the call.

If I am the manqager I am getting tossed on that one because it was a big call in that game at the time. The clip does not show us the distance from the 3B side so again the ump probably got it right and he was in good position. From the clip alone I don't see it as "fairly easy."

I am no expert ump like many here...but it clearly looked like interference to me. Absolutely positive the third baseman had to change his course to the ball.

Okay, but let me pose this question. Who is to say that's the 3rd baseman's ball in the first place? The shortstop could have easily field that ball as well.

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Originally posted by Bulldog 19:
Okay, but let me pose this question. Who is to say that's the 3rd baseman's ball in the first place? The shortstop could have easily field that ball as well.

But who fielded it? That's why he was protected. The umpire watches the play develop and protects the fielder fielding the ball

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But who fielded it? That's why he was protected. The umpire watches the play develop and protects the fielder fielding the ball

So you're telling me that the 3rd baseman could run all the way across and attempt to field a ball between 1st and 2nd and the runner running to 2 would have to avoid him?

If you have two or more fielders with a chance to field a ball, the umpire decides who to protect. All others are susceptible to obstruction violations.

quote:

Originally posted by Bulldog 19:

quote:

But who fielded it? That's why he was protected. The umpire watches the play develop and protects the fielder fielding the ball

So you're telling me that the 3rd baseman could run all the way across and attempt to field a ball between 1st and 2nd and the runner running to 2 would have to avoid him?

I'm telling you that if there is more than one fielder in the vicinity, the umpire will decide to protect one of them. Theoretically it could be the one who doe not attempt to field the ball, but I haven't seen that happen in 30 years. I will acknowledge, however, that it is possible, most likely in a day game.

Let me give you an actual play that I watched.
Batter pops up in foul, first base side, about the 45ft mark. The pitcher comes over tracking the ball, the catcher does likewise. F2 calls off the F1, who stops on the foul line watching the F2. The runner collides with F1 and continues down the line. F2 does a bad job of tracking the ball and realizes at the last second he is too far foul and lunges to the line to catch the ball. He misses and the ball falls beside the pitcher on the line. The call on the field was fair ball and F2 was the protected fielder even though the it fell inches from the F1. Defensive manager came to argue and the PU explained the F2 called off F1 and he had obviously given up on the catch.