Interference/Obstruction, infield fly rule?!!

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One out, Runners on 1st and 2nd. Batter hits fair pop-up, first base side
between 1st and home plate, batter/runner has a collision in fair territory with
our 1st baseman running up to make the catch, The 1st baseman being in fair
territory drops the ball and ball lands in foul territory. What's the ruling?!!
Interference/Obstruction, infield fly rule?!! Blue calls it a foul ball, and
lets batter continue to bat.

 

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If F3 touched the ball over fair territory, then it is a fair ball.

If it is a fair ball, and the umpire judges that it could have been caught with ordinary effort, then it is an infield fly.

If it's an infield fly, then the batter is out.

If the umpire judges that F3 would have had a possible play on another runner (that is, an actual opportunity to record another out), then the runner closest to home is also out, due to interference by a retired offensive player.

If there was no second play available, then there was no interference and no second out to be called.

 

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Ok take one step further, no infield fly in play, batter still does all of the above? Then interference since they are not in running lane area?

 

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I think if there is no infield fly and the batter/runner runs into a fielder then it interference on the runner. The fielder has 100% right of way to the ball once in play. Runner has to avoid the fielder no matter where it is on the field and can not obstruct a fielders play on the ball. If the ball is hit between 1-2 or 2-3 the runner has to stop and allow the fielder to make their play on the ball or run around the fielder to the backside of the play. If the collision happened in fair territory then the runner is out. If the collision happened in foul territory its dead ball "foul". If a fielder is blocking a runner (fielder runs into path of base runner) and there is no play on the ball then it would be interference on the defense. Sounds like the runner got lucky. If the fielder touched the ball in fair territory then its a live ball, once the collision the batter is out and dead ball. Blue calling it foul was incorrect and with 1 out it should have been infield fly and the collision would not have happened.

 

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Ok take one step further, no infield fly in play, batter still does all of the above? Then interference since they are not in running lane area?

With no infield fly in effect, this would be interference by the batter-runner. Immediate dead ball, batter-runner is out, all other base runners must return to last base held at the time of the interference.

If the batter-runner prevented a catch of a fly ball, it wouldn't matter if the ball was over fair or foul ground. It's still interference and an out.

The same clause applies about this interference preventing a play on another runner getting a second out. For instance, if a runner took off without tagging up and was in jeopardy of being doubled off, then you could charge the second out. But if the runners weren't advancing, just staying close to the bag, there would have been no chance for a second out, thus no second play to be interfered with and no second out would be charged.

By the way...the running lane doesn't have any bearing on this play. The three-foot running lane applies ONLY when the ball is being thrown to first base to retire a runner. All other times, it essentially does not exist.

 

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If F3 touched the ball over fair territory, then it is a fair ball.

If it is a fair ball, and the umpire judges that it could have been caught with ordinary effort, then it is an infield fly.

If it's an infield fly, then the batter is out.

If the umpire judges that F3 would have had a possible play on another runner (that is, an actual opportunity to record another out), then the runner closest to home is also out, due to interference by a retired offensive player.

If there was no second play available, then there was no interference and no second out to be called.

A few questions:

1) Play as described above - B-R retired by Infield Fly - and runners advance due to ball rolling away. Is it:
A. Interference by retired player - R1 called out.
B. Dead ball by ?? and runners have to return.
C. Runners allowed to advance.

2) Do runners have to tag up if ball not caught due to actions by retired B-R?

3) Similar play, but B-R prevents F3 from touching ball. Untouched ball lands in fair territory and rolls foul. Is it:
A. Not Infield Fly due to foul ball, but regular interference - dead ball, B-R out and runners have to return.
B. Same call, Infield Fly, because umpire judges ball would have been fair.
C. Foul ball.

 

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A few questions:

1) Play as described above - B-R retired by Infield Fly - and runners advance due to ball rolling away. Is it:
A. Interference by retired player - R1 called out.
B. Dead ball by ?? and runners have to return.
C. Runners allowed to advance.

2) Do runners have to tag up if ball not caught due to actions by retired B-R?

3) Similar play, but B-R prevents F3 from touching ball. Untouched ball lands in fair territory and rolls foul. Is it:
A. Not Infield Fly due to foul ball, but regular interference - dead ball, B-R out and runners have to return.
B. Same call, Infield Fly, because umpire judges ball would have been fair.
C. Foul ball.

1) Anytime an offensive player interferes with a fielder attempting to field a batted ball the ball is immediately dead. Other runners return. (ASA 8-2-F EFFECT)

2) The ball's dead so it really doesn't matter if they tag up or not. They cannot advance.

3) Again, dead ball so wherever the ball rolls doesn't matter. If the umpire judges the ball was catchable and would have been caught over fair ground, you have B/R out on the infield fly. If it would have been caught over foul ground, you have B/R out for interference.

 

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1) Play as described above - B-R retired by Infield Fly - and runners advance due to ball rolling away. Is it:
A. Interference by retired player - R1 called out.
B. Dead ball by ?? and runners have to return.
C. Runners allowed to advance.

1) Anytime an offensive player interferes with a fielder attempting to field a batted ball the ball is immediately dead. Other runners return. (ASA 8-2-F EFFECT)

I don't see how you can combine 8-2F's EFFECT when interference by a retired offensive player (8-7P) was possible. 8-2F is for interference by a batter-runner and the player in your original post never really became a B-R because they were out by IFF at the same moment their turn at bat concluded.

Rules Supplement #33 Interference includes B-R's under it's discussion of runner interference. It says - When a runner interferes with a fielder, the umpire must determine if the interference occurred before or after the runner who interfered was put out and then apply the appropriate rule.

I did think calling dead ball and keeping runners from advancing was the appropriate action (10-1?), but I found something in May 2013's Plays and Clarifications that could be applicable to calling interference by a retired offensive player in my scenario.

Runner Missing Home Plate:

Play: With R1 on 2B, B2 gets a base hit to RF. R1 scores but misses home plate. After entering the dugout, R1 returns to touch home plate and draws a throw. On the throw to the plate, B2 advances to 2B.

Ruling: Once a player enters dead ball territory, they are not permitted to come out of the dugout to touch home plate. When R1 did so and drew a throw, R1 was guilty of Interference by a retired runner. The ball is dead and B2 is ruled out. If the defense properly appeals that R1 missed home plate, R1 would also be ruled out.

Seems like B2 only advanced to 2B because of the opportunity created by the throw home and wasn't an available play at the time R1 left the dugout and drew the throw. If so, runner(s) advancing due to an opportunity created by a retired player knocking the ball away could result in a similar call. If no one tries to advance, it doesn't really matter whether the ball is dead or not (i.e. no harm, no foul).

 

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SoCal_Dad, you bring up some good points and a few things that I considered myself. This might be a play/ruling worthy of further review!

I can say that in all my years of umpiring I've never seen a batter-runner interfere with the fielder trying to catch their own infield fly. Under the assumption that, on an infield fly, the batter is out the instant the ball was hit it would appear that you have a retired offensive player interfering with a fielder fielding a batted ball. I kind of wracked my brain trying to think of any other possible situation where that would be the case (couldn't think of one).

This isn't directly addressed in the rule book by any one specific rule. I couldn't find any play like this in the case book, either.

I do seem to recall a discussion a few years back where the ruling might have been...since the ball never had the chance to be touched or land before the interference, it can't be declared either fair or foul. Thus, you can't call an infield fly because you don't have a fair ball. You simply have a batter-runner interfering with a catch...good old fashioned interference. Dead ball, B/R out, other runners return (or two outs if the umpire judges that the interference prevented a double play).

Maybe I'll run this by one of the umpire discussion boards. It should generate some interesting discussion.

 

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I was present when the incident happened. The ball was a pop-up. Directly over the 1st base line. Half way between home and first. F3 was on the line to catch the ball. Calling it. F3 was directly under the ball with full ability to catch it, without interference. The Batter/Runner never attempted to change her direction. She had her arms up to her chest protecting herself from the contact that was about to happen because she was not moving. F3 never caught the ball because she was knocked out of the way by the Batter/Runner. It should have been an interference call. It was very obvious.