Rules Question-Part Deux, Runner Interfence

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Do you have to have the double 1st base to be able to have the runner interfer with the throw from a fielder throwing up the line from near home plate?

Scenario: B1 bunts, F5 swoops in, picks up the ball. F5 is now in fair territory, about 2 feet from the 1st base foul line, about 5 feet in front of home plate. F5 throws to first base, only to nail B1 in the back. B1 was about 5 feet from 1st base in fair territory, not in the running lane. Umpire calls B1 safe. During our discussion, the ump tells us that you have to have the double base in order to call runner interference for that particular play (We were playing with the single base).

I didn't fall on my sword on this because the game was already out of control. This call, either way it went, was not going to affect the game.

 

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"Do you have to have the double 1st base to be able to have the runner interfer with the throw from a fielder throwing up the line from near home plate?"

No.

"During our discussion, the ump tells us that you have to have the double base in order to call runner interference for that particular play."

Wrong.

That's as simply as I can put it. I hate to rip another umpire a new one, but when people describe plays like this and offer up the explanations they were given, it is obvious that the umpire is making things up to cover his lack of rule knowledge.

I will never claim to be "perfect" on the field. A "perfect" game from an umpire is about as rare as a "perfect" game by a pitcher. But these are pretty basic plays and rules. The fact that the umpire ruled wrong is made worse by the fact that he made up some total line of bull to explain things away.

If this was a rookie umpire without much experience, I would tend to cut him some slack. But if this guy has been around awhile and is still blowing basic calls like this, I am less forgiving.

Here's something to think about: The three-foot running lane and the interference rule that applies to it have been around for about 75 years.

The double base at first has been around for about ten. :-/

The umpires explanation makes no sense. The running lane/interference rule applies to all games, no matter what type of base is used at first.

 

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Thanks Bretman. We were left shaking our head after that call. This was a two man crew, one young, one older, but experienced high OHSAA umps. They had the hats to prove it. We had a lot of high school rules being applied this last weekend at a WFC tournament.

 

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Umpires are too reluctant to make that call...usually because they are too caught up in the action and forget to watch where the runner is running. On about 8 out of 10 bunts I see the runner going down the line in fair territory and obviously obstructing the throw....and I have had it called in only one game so far this year.

 

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papabear is right. It takes a lot of concentration to be a good umpire. A good umpire will see a bunt right in front of home plate and immediately know to keep an eye on the batter/runner. A good umpire will see a potential play at home plate and know to watch for obstruction on the catcher as the ball is coming in to the plate. When an umpire's mind is elsewhere or he's just going through the motions, these things don't happen.

An umpire will also use his/her knowledge of the game to help make calls. One example: Lefty bunter/slapper gets two strikes on her and slaps four foul balls in a row. The next pitch is high and the batter tried to slap again, but checks her swing and fouls off the pitch. This weekend in Toledo, the base umpire calls her out on a bunt third strike off of an appeal. I tried in vain to explain to the umpire that our girl is not going to bunt with two strikes to begin with and that a check swing is not a bunt. An umpire who understood the game would have deduced as much, especially with the pitch being very high and the batter understandably holding up her swing at the last second. An umpire who is out there not thinking about anything will call the girl out because "it looked like a bunt to me." An umpire who is alert and has some knowledge knows better.