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Online now: 2 members: Bob Downs, TABLE SETTER 11; 95 anonymousDiscussion: Interference/Obstruction or Other
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| Feb. 20, 2019 BillC48 16 posts | Interference/Obstruction or Other Interesting scenario happened in our community league. Runners on first and third with one out. Batter hits an infield fly ball directly over first base. The runner stands on first and the first baseman drifts over to make the catch. The ball comes down directly over the runner on first and the fielder makes the catch, with some apparent touching with the runner. As the first baseman catches the fly he sees that the runner has either stepped off the bag or lost his balance and drifted off the bag and he is tagged for the double play. The manager contends that the runner has an absolute right to stand on first without moving to get out of the way of the fielder and that his runner was forced off the bag by the fielder. The umpires judge that the catch and tag constitute a double play....inning over. Any guidance on this play would be appreciated. |
| Feb. 20, 2019 DaveDowell Men's 70 4317 posts | BillC48 ... There's a lot to consider in this circumstance, but here are a few observations on what you specifically wrote as the fact pattern ... • You can probably rule out interference for a couple of reasons ... The runner, as the manager asserts, has NO obligation to vacate the safe haven of first base UNTIL/UNLESS the ball falls to the ground in fair territory ... He may NOT, however, lean his body, wave his arms, yell or do anything that would serve to hinder the defender's attempt to field the ball ... Should the ball hit the ground fair, he is "forced" to advance to 2nd base and may be tagged out whether or not he is still on the bag (Rulebook §8.1 B.) ... You indicated the defender made the catch during incidental contact which apparently did not result in the umpire(s) concluding that an act of interference by the base runner had occurred ... • The proper call now hinges solely on the umpire(s) judgment as to how/why the runner on 1B came off the bag ... With the catch being made, the potential "force" play disappears and the runner has no obligation to vacate the base to advance ... He either [1] left the bag voluntarily (without being influenced physically by the defender) and, accordingly was liable to be (and was) put out, or [2] he was knocked off the bag by the defender, which could be considered an act of obstruction pursuant to Rulebook §8.4(10) A. ... • Based on the ultimate call, it appears that the umpire(s) judgment was that the base runner vacated voluntarily or stumbled off the bag absent obstruction ... We would uphold the double play call in this narrow factual circumstance as presented ... |
| Feb. 20, 2019 BillC48 16 posts | Dave- thanks for a very thorough and detailed answer. One other question. Is the runner standing on 1st base obligated to get out of the fielder's way or can he stand in the way of a possible catch, thereby initiating contact. It seems that in this case there may have been incidental contact that could have been avoided if the runner had maintained his foot on the bag, but slid over into foul territory. The definition of interference "is the act of an offensive player that impedes or confuses a defensive player attempting to execute a play" falls under this situation. Or is the fact that offensive player is standing on a base exempt them from this requirement? |
| Feb. 21, 2019 B.J. 1107 posts | BillC.. the runner does not have to move and Dave did cover that You can probably rule out interference for a couple of reasons ... The runner, as the manager asserts, has NO obligation to vacate the safe haven of first base UNTIL/UNLESS the ball falls to the ground in fair territory ... He may NOT, however, lean his body, wave his arms, yell or do anything that would serve to hinder the defender's attempt to field the ball |
| March 3, 2019 Wayne 37 Men's 65 773 posts | .. The runner, as the manager asserts, has NO obligation to vacate the safe haven of first base UNTIL/UNLESS the ball falls to the ground in fair territory. This is what I said a few months ago, but all I got was static on the line. |
| March 3, 2019 Dbax Men's 65 2101 posts | The question had already been answered twice. |
| March 3, 2019 B.J. 1107 posts | lmao... hmmm ... I think someone has forgotten to take his meds... AGAIN .. and this will probably be another closed thread real soon sorry Dave |
| March 3, 2019 AJC Men's 60 218 posts | Thread closed in 3....2....1.....lol |
| March 3, 2019 stick8 1992 posts | BillC48 in the original scenario the manager who argues his runner has the absolute right to stand on the bag is absolutely correct! As long as that runner does nothing to hinder or distract the fielder from catching the ball he’s fine. I don’t think anyone with a lick of sense would vacate a bag to allow a fielder to catch a pop up and risk being doubled off. |
