Catching and Catchers discussion Catcher throw at runner?

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This happened in our game a few years back........batter bunts in front of the plate, catcher fields the ball and throws to first and the ball sails over the runner's head and into right field. I ask the umpire if the runner was in fair territory and he said yes but "since the ball did not hit her then it was not interference, it was just a bad throw."

Like it or not, it sounds like you got a good explanation that is supported by the actual rule and interpretive literature.

For the umpire to rule interference on this play, the throw must be a "quality" throw, one that has some reasonable chance of actually retiring the runner. In other words, it must be both toward and within reach of the fielder taking the throw at first base.

If that wasn't the case, then on any close play at first with a runner out of the lane the catcher could get an out by purposely throwing the ball into right field.

Here's another way that the "quality throw" aspect of the rule can come into play- if the catcher does hit the runner with a throw that is angled away from the base (which could be the case if the catcher was more intent on hitting the runner than simply completing the play), the correct ruling could be that the throw was not of sufficient enough quality to have retired the runner. There would be no interference and the ball would remain live.

Forgetting for a minute about any moral aspect of purposely trying to hit a runner (which would be an almost impossible thing for an umpire to judge anyway, what with the runner, the catcher, the fielder and the ball all being in one congested area to begin with) the rules for this play provide a good balance of responsibility for both the offense and the defense.

The offense is responsible to stay within their prescribed running lane and to not interfere. The defense is responsible for completing the play in a normal fashion. If either side fails to meet their responsiblity, then the umpire can rule accordingly.

From a coaching perspective, the highest percentage play is to have your catcher make a normal throw to the fielder at first base and let the chips fall where they may. You'll either get the out or you won't.

Trying to hit the runner has too many downsides. It can be tougher to hit a moving target (the runner) than a stationary one (the fielder taking the throw), it can cause the throw to be angled away from the base (in which case it shouldn't be ruled interference anyway) and you might not get the interference call if the umpire judges the runner wasn't actually out of the lane.
 
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Bretman,

Thanks for the response. I agree with you and understand the idea of "quality throw". Makes good sense. My feelings at the time were that it was a catchable ball but that the position of the runner inside the base line was the reason the throw was high. Therefore my fielder pulled away from the bag rather than catch it. To me this would constitute interference. Regardless, from your explanation, it appears that there is a lot more to the ruling than the position of the runner.
 
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From your explanation, it appears that there is a lot more to the ruling than the position of the runner.

Yes, and there is even more to it than what I already posted! :eek:

Some quirks of the three foot running lane rules:

- On fields not using the double first base, you have to make some consideration for the runner exiting the lane as she makes her final step to touch the single base.

Without a double base in use, the three foot running lane is essentially a road to nowhere! At the end of the lane, the runner must exit it in order to touch first base. If the runner is hit by the throw at that point, after having been in the lane the rest of the way down the line, it would not be interference.

- A runner can be guilty of interference for being out of the lane even if she is not hit by the ball.

If the runner's position out of the lane is such that she screens out the fielder receiving the throw, or otherwise impedes the fielder at first base, that can be interference even without the ball touching her.

But that does assume the throw was a "quality" one that could have actually been caught had the runner not been out of the lane and in the fielders way.

- Depending on which set of rules your game is being played under, there can be different interpretations of what constitutes a runner being "out of the running lane".

For instance, in high school ball the runner must have a foot actually touching the ground completely outside the lines to be considered as "out of the running lane".

In ASA, the interpretation is that a runner with both feet in the lane can be considered as "out of the lane" if the body part hit by the ball- like an arm or shoulder- is extended outside the imaginary "plane" of the running lane lines.

So, there are a half dozen different things to consider and lot's of umpire judgment involved on these calls. That's why I think that the best defensive strategy is to simply complete the play. Just make a normal throw to the base and you take a lot of the judgment- that might go your way and it might not- out of the umpire's hands. More often than not, purposely trying to hit the runner is going to backfire!
 
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It sounds like a strategy used by someone who doesn't know the game. Throw to first and get the out!! If you don't have confidence in your players to be able to make the play, then you shouldn't have them on your team. If you are telling your players to intentionally hit opponents, I hope you are preparing them to get their butts kicked too because you are eventually going to come across someone who will hit back.
 
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Just Curious ? How many times have you seen this happen? I can recall this only one time and they did call the runner out, in a travel ball tourney..
 
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Just one time for me as well, but runner was called safe and I agreed with the call, it was my runner. LOL
 
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I have Coached 80+ travel games in the last 2 years. I can not remember one instance of a runner getting pegged in the back by a Catcher. Honestly I did not know the rule. If it happened live I would assume it a live ball(runner not out).

I agree this is ridicioulous to even suggest to a player. I am a firm believer that you just don't intentionally throw at your opposition.

That being said...I wonder what might be going through my Pitchers head the next time that Catcher showed up at the plate?????
 
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Just Curious ? How many times have you seen this happen? I can recall this only one time and they did call the runner out, in a travel ball tourney..

Going back over about a ten year span, covering about 600-700 games, I can only remember calling interference for a running lane violation twice.

I can remember maybe two or three times where a coach argued for this call, but didn't get it, because the throw was not catchable or I didn't think the runner was actually out of the lane to begin with.
 
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My thought is that you NEVER NEVER NEVER want to rely on any umpire to make any call that could be prevented. If they dont give you that call you could end up with a multiple base fiasco. Unusual circumstances are usually the root of throwing the ball around in the infield. You may just end up with the bases cleared and what sounded like a great idea costing you some runs. Just get the out and keep things simple.
 
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This might be a dumb question but what is the rule if the runner at 3rd get hit with a throw by the catcher in fair territory while off the base? I think I know the answer but had some folks disagree!
 
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If the runner intentionally interfered with the throw, then it is interference, dead ball and the runner is out. This is the rule anytime a runner is hit by a thrown ball, anywhere on the playing field.

The "intention" would need to be something more than simply returning to the bag in fair territory. You would really need to see the runner purposely and willfully reach out to contact the ball or purposely alter her path back to the base and jump into the ball. But just going back to the base in fair territory- or any other path the runner chooses- isn't in itself any kind of violation.

There isn't a "running lane" at second or third base. The running lane at first is in effect only on the initial play on the batter-runner and essentially "disappears" once a she reaches first base. On the initial play at first, being out of the lane is in and of itself considered a willfull and intentional act.

If any throw hits a runner who did not intentionally interfere, then there is no penalty. The ball remains live and the runner is free to advance as she wishes.
 
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I really can't believe we are discussing the posibility of drilling someone in the back, with the ball and trying to justify it. Ranks right up there with coaches having their pitcher hit the other teams best players when they come up to the plate. Make the darn play. That should never be taught to be done intentionally.
 
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teach a kid to throw at a runner just to get a out, maybe hurt that runner. where is the sportsmenship in that. let the umpire handle this call. dont take this in your hands and teach this. if i was calling this game and tought in my judgement that this was done just to get that out. the coach and catcher would be watching this game from outside the park.
 
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You go for the sure out at first.You may have a ump who may not call the runner out
 
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Why would you even think of a thing to teach your catcher? If I seen this in a game and know you had this done on purpose I would ask my coach to pull our team from the field. Thats not right you take the chance of hurting a girl seriously . Why not teach your team to hit a runner in the heart to stop them from breathing? This is the most STUPID thing I have read on here.Tell us what team you coach for? If you do coach I hope your organization removes you.Obviously you dont need to be a coach.If you cant coach your catcher how to throw out a runner proper, then you need not to be coaching.I hope all of your parents read this before they pay thier fees.
 

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