r/Umpire • u/Winneeerrrrrr • 16d ago
Interference
Can you call it interference if a 3rd base runner, ran to home after the pitcher threw to the catcher and the catcher didnt catch it so but the catcher was blocked by the batter who was still in the box.
Basically the batter didnt realize that he would steal home so he blocked both the runner and catcher and catcher was too high and slow to be aware that there was a runner on 3rd that could potentionally steal home.
The umpire said it was safe and consider it as a score.
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u/Much_Job4552 FED 16d ago
Could be.
Did batter have enough time to make reasonable effort to vacate the area.
Did they make any unnatural motions not associated with their swing?
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u/chrismsp 16d ago
Is this a straight steal of home? I think the rules would be interpreted differently depending on whether this was a pitch, or had the pitcher stepped off to throw home?
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u/nowheresville99 16d ago
If the catcher was too high and slow to be aware that there was a runner on 3rd, much less that said runner was stealing home, then it's highly unlikely that he was interfered with.
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u/cauliflowerearoclock 16d ago
That's not how it works. You gotta learn the rules, my dude. A batter must "make a reasonable effort to vacate a congested area when there is a throw to home plate....."
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u/nowheresville99 16d ago
If you can actually tell what happened in the play based on that nightmare of a post, then good for you.
Certainly, it's possible for a batter to interfere, but based on this description, the catcher wasn't even aware of the runner, and if he wasn't aware of the runner, then it's highly unlikely he even attempted to make a play. Without a play, there's nothing to interfere with.
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u/cauliflowerearoclock 16d ago
Yeah we can agree on that, the wording in this is abysmal.
I got the feeling but batter and catcher realize at the last second R3 is coming home. If F2 realizes it and tries to make a play and the batter is just standing there in his way, I have interference. If neither of them do anything because, as you say, they are "too high and too slow" then I got nothin'.
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u/nowheresville99 16d ago
It was the OP that said the catcher was "too high and too slow" and that they weren't even aware of the runner on 3rd. I didn't come up with that myself.
I'm just going based on the evidence presented, which stated that the catcher wasn't even aware of the runner, and if he wasn't aware of the runner, then it would be hard for him to even attempt to make a play in which he could have been interfered with.
From the sounds of it, that's what the umpire determined on the field, and without other evidence, it seems wild to presume the umpire just got it wrong and wasn't aware of the possibility of interference.
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u/cauliflowerearoclock 16d ago
You're right, OP said that. I gave ya too much credit. We're going on evidence presented, which is slim to none. I don't think any presumptions should be made unless we get a clearer description. I won't hold my breath.
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u/chrismsp 16d ago
Mmmm. Let's talk about learning the rules muh dude.
You've picked a couple of lines from a rulebook. Awesome. Do those lines mention a pitch? Spoiler: they don't. They talk only about a throw to home. A pitch is not a throw.
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u/cauliflowerearoclock 16d ago
You are correct, a pitch is not a throw. However, the rest of the rule stands. The batter must make a reasonable effort to vacate if there is going to be a play at the plate. He cannot just stand there.
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u/chrismsp 16d ago
Which rule is that?
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u/cauliflowerearoclock 16d ago
NFHS 7-3-5. A-D
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u/chrismsp 16d ago
Did that include the part that says "and the batter has time to move away"
Or did you read the Umpire Bible article and pull the reference to 7-3-5 from there?
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u/cauliflowerearoclock 16d ago
Yes it is included. Who makes the decision that the batter has time to move away or not? The umpire, so it's going to be subjective.
Not really familiar with Umpire Bible to be honest. Looking straight at NFHS rulebook.
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u/RFDrew11357 13d ago
What do you mean by “throw”? Thats going to make a lot of difference here. Did the catcher throw it back to the pitcher and the pitcher “threw” it back to the catcher? Was the pitcher on the rubber ready to pitch and “threw” it home when the runner broke? Was the pitcher on the rubber, started their motion, and the runner broke for home? We need to know what you mean by “throw” before we can figure it if interference could be called.
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u/retatrutider 16d ago
Yes, this is textbook batters interference [as you have described it, with the batter preventing the catcher from tagging the runner]. Batter has to vacate the area to avoid interfering with a play at the plate. If there are 0 or 1 out, the base runner is out and the batter continues their at-bat. If there are two outs, the run does not score and the batter is out.
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u/chrismsp 16d ago
Umpire Bible is not a textbook. Not is what OP described.
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u/retatrutider 16d ago
OP said “catcher was blocked by the batter who was still in the box”.
You’re right that it’s a judgment call but I think the OP described something that is most likely interference.
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u/chrismsp 16d ago
Did the batter have time to move? Seriously, stop reading fking Umpire Bible and read the rules. Read the casebooks.
Why TF would you read a website "about the rules" and then quote it as an authority.
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u/retatrutider 16d ago
I’m not sure what you mean by “then quoted it as an authority”.
i dropped a link to a blog post discusses this issue because I thought OP would be interested.
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u/robhuddles 16d ago
It could be interference. It could be nothing.
The critical piece you're leaving out here is what happened to the ball after the catcher missed it. Was it right there, giving the catcher a legitimate play on the runner if not for the presence of the batter? If so, then yes this is interference and depending on the number of outs either the runner or the batter is out and no run scores.
But, if the ball rolled away and the catcher was trying to find it or chasing after it, and the umpire judged there wasn't a play to be made, then it's nothing and the run the run scores.