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Started By
Message
Help me understand this baseball/softball rule...
Posted on 4/27/21 at 1:01 pm
Posted on 4/27/21 at 1:01 pm
saw a facebook video of a softball game. here's the scenario:
batting team is the home team.
runners on first and i believe second. view is from the 3rd base line in the stands and 2nd/3rd base are out of view. we're looking at the pitcher, batter, catcher and ump.
pitcher throws a wild pitch high. no signal from the ump if this is a walk or strikeout. just a "ball".
batter steps out of box and looks towards 3rd base coach while runners on first and second try to steal/advance to the next base.
catcher proceeds to beam the batter dead arse in the back from less than 8 feet away in attempt to throw the runner out at 3rd base.
umpire calls the batter out due to interference.
people in the stands are arguing the call because apparently, this isn't the first time this has happened. they believe the catcher is doing it on purpose to get the free out.
i get that it's interference, but what do you do if you're the coaches or umpire in this instance.
should the batter remain in the batter's box while their teammates are attempting to steal?
i'd link the video, but i know how the OT feels about Facebook, so....
eta: screw it, here's the video (its from facebook)
LINK /
batting team is the home team.
runners on first and i believe second. view is from the 3rd base line in the stands and 2nd/3rd base are out of view. we're looking at the pitcher, batter, catcher and ump.
pitcher throws a wild pitch high. no signal from the ump if this is a walk or strikeout. just a "ball".
batter steps out of box and looks towards 3rd base coach while runners on first and second try to steal/advance to the next base.
catcher proceeds to beam the batter dead arse in the back from less than 8 feet away in attempt to throw the runner out at 3rd base.
umpire calls the batter out due to interference.
people in the stands are arguing the call because apparently, this isn't the first time this has happened. they believe the catcher is doing it on purpose to get the free out.
i get that it's interference, but what do you do if you're the coaches or umpire in this instance.
should the batter remain in the batter's box while their teammates are attempting to steal?
i'd link the video, but i know how the OT feels about Facebook, so....
eta: screw it, here's the video (its from facebook)
LINK /
This post was edited on 4/27/21 at 1:11 pm
Posted on 4/27/21 at 1:02 pm to finchmeister08
yep, should be a touchback. No points given.
Posted on 4/27/21 at 1:03 pm to finchmeister08
Was it ball 4? If not, it’s technically interference if the batter made no attempt to remove themselves from the play and either willingly or through omission of action blocked the throw
Posted on 4/27/21 at 1:04 pm to finchmeister08
I’m guessing if the batter is out of the box, it’s a judgment call and smart by the catcher. Just a bruise and advanced runners if she stays in the box.
Posted on 4/27/21 at 1:04 pm to finchmeister08
quote:
should the batter remain in the batter's box while their teammates are attempting to steal?
yes
Posted on 4/27/21 at 1:05 pm to finchmeister08
That's only interference if the umpire thinks the batter did it on purpose. The batter has no obligation to get out of the way of the throw either, just can't intentionally interfere.
Bad call by the umpire, based solely on your description.
ETA: Actually I think I'm wrong... if he/she steps out of the batter's box, then they are out if they interfere with the throw. If they stay in the box, then it would be a bad call.
Bad call by the umpire, based solely on your description.
ETA: Actually I think I'm wrong... if he/she steps out of the batter's box, then they are out if they interfere with the throw. If they stay in the box, then it would be a bad call.
This post was edited on 4/27/21 at 1:14 pm
Posted on 4/27/21 at 1:05 pm to finchmeister08
Interference.
Batter can also take a step back and clip the catchers mitt and get to first. Exploiting the rules is all of the catcher is doing if on purpose.
Batter can also take a step back and clip the catchers mitt and get to first. Exploiting the rules is all of the catcher is doing if on purpose.
Posted on 4/27/21 at 1:05 pm to finchmeister08
umpirebible.com
quote:
We said a moment ago that most of the time the steal is of second base. But not always. Sometimes you get a base runner stealing third, and this is the case where you really need to watch for batter's interference. That's because the throw to third often requires the catcher to throw across the right-handed batter's box. And that's where the batter is standing (if he's right-handed). And you can't expect the batter to simply disappear.
Now, this gets a little bit tricky. There is a common misconception that if a batter remains in the batter's box he cannot be called out for interference. This is not true. The batter's box is not a safe haven. But, as we said, he can't be expected to disappear, either. Add to this that a play on a steal of third happens so friggin' fast that the batter may not even know a play is on until the ball goes whizzing by.
And let's not forget about snap throws down to first base to catch a runner leading off too aggressively, or who may not be paying attention (yep, sometimes they catch runners sleeping). You have the same issue here as you do with throws to third, but instead it's with left-handed batters.
So, with all of this fuzzy grey zone, what's an umpire to do? Well, the wording of 6.03(a)(3) is important here: The batter is out if 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." As directives go, you can't get much broader than "any other movement." Batter beware.
The emphasis is important because "any other movement" covers a lot of ground. A lot. So the message is, give the balance of judgment to the catcher. Sometimes a bad throw is just a bad throw and you have nothing. But if the catcher's throw gets disrupted in any way, regardless of intent, you've got to call it.
But again (for the third time), you can't expect the batter to simply disappear. You have to watch and judge for yourself whether the batter made "any other movement" that hindered the catcher in any way. This is a judgment call, of course. Generally (generally), if the batter remains still in the batter's box and makes no movement, then he is protected from interference. If it were me, though, I'd duck. But that's just me.
Here's where it gets even more tricky
The batter's interference play that I believe causes the most arguments is not on a straight-up steal. Instead, it's when the catcher mishandles a pitch (or is handling a wild pitch) with runner on base. The ball is on the ground and runners are in motions and the catcher is diving or grabbing for the ball; at the same time the batter is dancing out of the way while trying to avoid interfering, and in doing so he instead interferes. That's interference. "But I was trying to get out of the way," the batter protests. You're breaking my heart, son. You're out.
This post was edited on 4/27/21 at 1:08 pm
Posted on 4/27/21 at 1:06 pm to finchmeister08
quote:
should the batter remain in the batter's box while their teammates are attempting to steal?
The batter is to remain in the batter's box. Stepping into the throwing lane is interference.
LINK
Posted on 4/27/21 at 1:06 pm to finchmeister08
That is interference.
The batter cannot move out of the batters box and interfere with the catcher....whether it's intentional or unintentional.
It is the batters responsibility not to interfere with the catcher outside of the batters box.
That is one of the reasons for the batters box.
The batter cannot move out of the batters box and interfere with the catcher....whether it's intentional or unintentional.
It is the batters responsibility not to interfere with the catcher outside of the batters box.
That is one of the reasons for the batters box.
Posted on 4/27/21 at 1:06 pm to LSUBoo
I tell my guys to stand right where they are
Posted on 4/27/21 at 1:07 pm to Billder
quote:
yep, should be a touchback. No points given.
The ball will be placed on the 25 yard line
Posted on 4/27/21 at 1:08 pm to finchmeister08
If they're out of the box it was a smart play by the catcher and should be an out.
Posted on 4/27/21 at 1:08 pm to finchmeister08
What type of league is this? There are some leagues that the batter is not required to get out of the way of the throw as long as they stand still, in the batters box. There are some leagues that require the batter to make an effort to get out of the catcher's way to make an attempt to make a play.
Without seeing the play, if the catcher's trajectory was to 3rd base, there is a good chance this was the correct ruling(even if hitting the batter was intentional); especially since she was no longer in the batters box.
Without seeing the play, if the catcher's trajectory was to 3rd base, there is a good chance this was the correct ruling(even if hitting the batter was intentional); especially since she was no longer in the batters box.
Posted on 4/27/21 at 1:08 pm to finchmeister08
The batter has a right to the box so you either stay still or move far away from the play otherwise you’re at risk for interference. Heady play by the catcher to drill a batter who moves a foot out of the box.
Posted on 4/27/21 at 1:09 pm to LSUBoo
quote:
That's only interference if the umpire thinks the batter did it on purpose. The batter has no obligation to get out of the way of the throw either, just can't intentionally interfere.
Incorrect.
There is an obligation outside of the batters box.
Inside the batters box it becomes a judgement call.
Posted on 4/27/21 at 1:09 pm to JDPndahizzy
quote:
yep, should be a touchback. No points given.
The ball will be placed on the 25 yard line
Posted on 4/27/21 at 1:10 pm to LSUBoo
quote:
That's only interference if the umpire thinks the batter did it on purpose. The batter has no obligation to get out of the way of the throw either, just can't intentionally interfere.
Bad call by the umpire, based solely on your description.
I don't think intent has anything to do with it. I regularly see amateur baseball players swinging when a guy is stealing second and unintentionally fall over the plate, and they are called out and the runner sent back.
This post was edited on 4/27/21 at 1:11 pm
Posted on 4/27/21 at 1:11 pm to finchmeister08
quote:
should the batter remain in the batter's box while their teammates are attempting to steal?
Yes, if the batter doesn't move they are fine. If they move they can't interfere with the play. Doesn't matter if it was intentional or not.
Posted on 4/27/21 at 1:11 pm to Bham Bammer
went ahead and post the video in the OP
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