Rule Question on drop 3rd strike

[default]

O.K Bretman, I need a clarification on this situation: Third strike pops out of catchers mitt and lands out front of home plate, the batter then base-runner kicks the ball as she runs to first base. I thought the runner is out due to interference. Home plate umpire allowed the play to stand, runner safe at first because it was not done intentionally.

 

[default]

As far as the actual rule, for ASA it is 8-2-F(6).

On the uncaught third strike, your batter became a batter-runner. A batter/runner is out if she interferes with a dropped third strike.

That is the rule. The way the rule is applied depends on umpire judgement.

The B/R's intent can factor in to the judgement. If the interference is judged to be intentional, interference is definitely the call. But the contact may also be ruled incidental, with no penalty and the ball remaining live.

One example of "incidental" contact would be if the catcher bobbled the ball and dropped it right into the path of the advancing B/R. The B/R would be doing exactly what she is supposed to do- running to first- and the ball suddenly in her path might be impossible to avoid. The umpire could rule a lack of intent to interfere by the batter.

When judging this play, the scales tip in favor of the offensive player. The defense has erred on the play- by not catching the pitch- and the B/R has every right to advance directly toward first.

So, the rule calls for the B/R to be out on interferece, but the actual interference must be judged by the umpire before the rule can be applied. Without seeing the play, I couldn't say if the umpire correctly judged it.

 

[default]

Thanks Bretman.... I still have a hard time believing this could not be interference. If it's umpires judgment if ball is kicked intentionally, I can see coaches spending hours coaching their kids to "accidently" nudge the ball with their feet. I know, I'm a little over the top ;D. Thank you for the clarification. I asked the ump why it was not interference and his response was "It's just not". I had to laugh and asked him to check the rule book after the game.

 

[default]

Bretman/Shockwave - I thought that ANYTIME an offensive player, whether intentionally or NOT, interfers with a defensive players attempt to make a play on a ball (whether it is there by previous error or not doesn't matter) it is an immediate dead ball and the runner is called out. I don't understand your previous explanation, which, like many of the others, we greatly appreciate your input.

So, a ground ball up the middle is misplayed by the pitcher and get's redirected toward the second baseman only to be unintentionally kicked by the runner going from first to second while the second basman is attempting to make a play on the ball and the runner is not out?

Thanks in advance for your further clarification because like Shockwave I'm confused ... I got an immediate dead ball and runner is out in this situation (just like in the hypothetical example above as well).

 

[default]

Brian,

First let me address your hypothetical play.

So, a ground ball up the middle is misplayed by the pitcher and get's redirected toward the second baseman only to be unintentionally kicked by the runner going from first to second while the second basman is attempting to make a play on the ball and the runner is not out?"

In your example, we have a batted ball that is deflected. Generally, a runner is protected from interference when hit with a deflected batted ball. The ASA rule is 8-8-F.

"A runner is not out...when hit by a fair batted ball after it touches, or is touched by, any fielder, including the pitcher, and the runner could not avoid contact with the ball."

On your play, we have a batted ball that was deflected by a fielder and the contact was, as you said, unintentional. The runner is not out and the ball remains live and in play. The umpire must judge if the deflected ball was avoidable or not. If it was, then the runner would be out for interference.

I would apply this same principle to the dropped third strike play. If the catcher deflects the ball into the batter-runners path, making contact with the ball unavoidable, I would have the B/R protected from interference.

If the kick of the ball is judged to be avoidable or intentional the B/R would, of course, be out.

 

[default]

As a USSSA umpire, I have the same results as expressed by Bretman.

 

[default]

We had that very thing happen in a tourney except the ball was deflected to the short stop. The ump said our girl was safe because the ball wasnt headed for her when she took off for third.