Batter hits pop up in front of the 3B dugout. Catcher & 3B converge someone on the bench yells "I got it" and the two players back off. The ball fall between them. What's the call?
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Depends upon the rules of that game. In FED, the umpire can call interference and batter is out.
Same thing in major league rules. Definition of offensive interference covers this:
Offensive interference is an act by the team at bat which interferes with, obstructs, impedes, hinders or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play. If the umpire declares the batter, batter runner, or a runner out for interference, all other runners shall return to the last base that was in the judgment of the umpire, legally touched at the time of the interference, unless otherwise provided by these rules. In the event the batter runner has not reached first base, all runners shall return to the base last occupied at the time of the pitch.
Offensive interference is an act by the team at bat which interferes with, obstructs, impedes, hinders or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play. If the umpire declares the batter, batter runner, or a runner out for interference, all other runners shall return to the last base that was in the judgment of the umpire, legally touched at the time of the interference, unless otherwise provided by these rules. In the event the batter runner has not reached first base, all runners shall return to the base last occupied at the time of the pitch.
StyleMismatch,
You are wrong. Carl Childress BRD clearly specifies that verbal actions are NOT interference under pro rules. JR also rules out interference being verbal.
You are wrong. Carl Childress BRD clearly specifies that verbal actions are NOT interference under pro rules. JR also rules out interference being verbal.
I was quoting directly from the major league rule book defining interference. "Any act" is pretty broad and would seem to include verbal gestures or communication, and the intent and result obviously was to confuse the defense.
That's why you have to buy and read supplements to know the true rules. There are multiple errors in the rule books (over 200 errors in the pro rules according to Childress) that have been superceeded by case rulings from the official rule's interpreter.
Sounds like judicial activism by the interpreter! Whatever happened to strict construction? 
I was thinking the same thing - the Supreme Court of Baseball is making up rules as they go. It's tough enough to learn the rules that are in the RULE BOOK, but on top of that there are all of these contradictory decisions hidden in JR (this or that rule only applies on the 2nd Thursday after a full moon). Sounds like there's some lawyers involved with too much time on their hands. 
Under pro rule, and playing at the pro level I can understand why verbal interference would not be called.
However, since the rule is very broad in nature and we are not umpiring pro games.
I would call interference and get the out.
However, since the rule is very broad in nature and we are not umpiring pro games.
I would call interference and get the out.
According to a note in Carl Childress book, Carl remembers Bruce Froemming saying he would steal the out also.