Batter Interference?

[umpinva]

Apologies, I had no idea this really happened.

I thought you dreamed up some impossible "what if" scenario.

Wade, If I post in the Umpire Corner, then it's a play that happened and I'm looking for rule clarification or an understanding from an umpires point of view.

The first part of my post actually happened. The PU and BU both didn't see the contact. Thus no call. Our catcher is one of the top 96' catchers in the country and for her to miss a very catchable pitch was very odd. When she called time to tell us she got hit with the bat being pulled back, then we understood what happened.

The second paragraph was a continuation of the play. The batter being completely out of the box and in between our catcher and the play at the plate. But our catcher didn't actually throw the ball because the batter was in the way. I told her after the game to next time throw the ball and hit the batter to maybe get an interference call. Or at least to teach the batter to get out of the way. I was looking for a umpires point of view of this scenerio.

I'd appreciate any comments.

Interference is a judgment call. Your post says neither umpire saw contact with the catcher, so no call was made. Unfortunately sometimes things get missed.

As to the second paragraph regarding the continuation of the play, your instructing F2 to throw and intentionally hit a batter is sickening. As an umpire I would eject any player for intentionally trying to hit a player as well as any coach who instructed players on their team to do so. There's one umpire's point of view.

[NM FP Ump]

Ice_67,

If the PU and the BU didn't see the contact they can't make the call. The PU's position behind F4 isn't the best for this situation, especially since he is tracking the location of the pitch, and not the location of the bat. The BU's position is definitely not help the PU, if the PU goes to the BU for help on the interference. Just one of those plays.

In the second situation, I wouldn't tell your DD to "drill the batter in the back" the next time it happens. Just have her throw the ball to the target, whether the batter is in the way or not. If I feel, IN MY JUDGMENT, that F2 threw the ball at the batter ON PURPOSE, F2 will be ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct.

That's another umpire's point of view.

[NoNothin]

Ice_67

If the BR stepped out of the box to get out of the way and had her back to the ball not knowing where it was, I would not give an interference and if F2 intentionally threw at her back because she happened to be in the way, I would also eject.

That's another umpire's point of view.

NoNo

[MTR]

Same situation, but PU doesn't see contact between bat and catchers mask, catcher retrieves passed ball, BR is out of batters box and in direct line of home plate( BR is in-between catcher and pitcher who is covering home plate). Catcher throws ball and hits BR, R1 scores. Is BR out and R1 returned to 3rd?

Speaking ASA

Obviously, HTBT, but it would most likely be INT assuming 1) there was a play to be made and, 2) the catcher was in the throwing lane necessary for the defense to complete the play.

[ice_67]

Ice_67

If the BR stepped out of the box to get out of the way and had her back to the ball not knowing where it was, I would not give an interference and if F2 intentionally threw at her back because she happened to be in the way, I would also eject.

That's another umpire's point of view.

NoNo

Nono, I was unaware of any rule that a batter had to "know" where the ball was for it to be interference with a play at home plate.

[NoNothin]

"Nono, I was unaware of any rule that a batter had to "know" where the ball was for it to be interference with a play at home plate."

Its a judgement call and BR is making an attempt to get out of the way. Tough call to make from my laptop hundreds of miles away, but from 5' away it would probably be the same.

NoNo

[wadeintothem]

Ice_67

If the BR stepped out of the box to get out of the way and had her back to the ball not knowing where it was, I would not give an interference
[\quote]


That may be how you would choose to do it, but thats not the rule.

In the box, if she actively hinders, that is INT.

If she INT by stepping out of the box, that is INT.

and if F2 intentionally threw at her back because she happened to be in the way, I would also eject.

That's another umpire's point of view.

NoNo

Youre not going to get an ejection in 99% of the times a catcher throws and hits someone because there is no known intent.

The % is even higher for me because I have never ejected a catcher when a runner or batter was hit by the ball, even when I suspected it was on purpose.

[wadeintothem]

The first part of my post actually happened. The PU and BU both didn't see the contact. Thus no call. Our catcher is one of the top 96' catchers in the country and for her to miss a very catchable pitch was very odd. When she called time to tell us she got hit with the bat being pulled back, then we understood what happened.

This is 100% her fault due to improper positioning and part of the learning curve of being a good catcher.

[wadeintothem]

I will still hold my opinion on her national standing though. For an 11 year old she blocks or catches pretty much everything. Yeah she's still learning. I'll bring it up at tonight's practice about drilling the batter in the back next time it happens.

Most time I see it, they bounce it off the batters helmet. That kind of bounces the live ball pretty far though and often times the run scores... so maybe the back is better.

[bugs]

Sam, Sam. I thought you knew the TD School Of Softball. That is to score a critical run late in the game with a runner on third, do a fake bunt and pull the bat back into the catchers mask blocking her vision and the ball goes to the backstop hoping the umpire did not see or hear it. I won a tournament in Vegas one year doing just that hoping the Blues had no clue. Got away with it.

I am curious as to why none of the Blues who have posted here don't realize that this is taught by coaches. But I am glad they have no clue. Keep it up Blues, "the catcher must have been too close......Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!" Umps where dupped again!

Hey Sam, do I still owe you a cigar. Your SD friend from long ago.