roccreator wrote:We were in the field and there was a runner on 1st. Batter bunts to 3rd and catcher forgets to cover 3rd. Shortstop covering 2nd sees problem and runs stride for stride with runner trying to advance to 3rd. 1st baseman throws to 3rd and shortstop makes an amazing catch to tag runner before reaching base.
Home plate ump calls runner out. 3rd base coach (scrambling) starts yelling interference and talks to field ump.
Long story short, Field ump says in his opinion it looked as if the two girl jersey's had touched and reverses call.
My argument: That's not interference. Interference is when the fielder gets in the way of, or alters the path of the runner.
At this point he seemed confused and said: Let's just get on with the game because I'm not changing anything at this point.
Is it interference if the two jersey's touch or was that a bad call???
Let's start with some definitions, so we all understand what is being asked/said.
1)
Interference is the act of an
offensive team member that impedes, hinders, or confuses a
defensive player attempting to execute a play.
2)
Obstruction is the act of a
defensive team member that impedes the progress of a runner who is legally running the bases, unless the fielder is a) in possession of the ball, or b) in the act of fielding a batted ball.
So, from listening to your description, not only wasn't there
interference, but that isn't what the umpire ruled on, either; because
interference means the runner is out.
There could have been
obstruction; that is if, in the umpire's judgment, your fielder in any way hindered the runner before having possession of the ball. No one can tell you, or anyone else, if jerseys touching is enough to determine if the runner was hindered or impeded; but if the umpire judges she was, that is
obstruction.