Seriously ? Its a first for me

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So, Runner on third, 1 out, here comes the pitch, ball - batter still in box, catcher tries to throw to third but batter is in way, catcher looks to her bench " i cant throw with her in the way".......and the bench says " If you dont throw it they wont call interference"....at this point im thinking *** ?

Next Pitch, Ball, catcher has the ball, stands up and throws the ball full speed into the batter, hitting her in the wrist. ......Ok so im beyond *** at this point and leave my position coaching 1st base and tell the ump that was intentional. If i was the ump she would be out of the game.


Well the ump clarifies the rule to both the catcher and the coach, awards the girls first and leaves it at that.

Its been a couple days and i still cant beleive i saw that......

 

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Another example of why coaches must know the rules of the game (each and every one) and teach those rules to the girls.

There are so many coaches who don't know the rules but attempt to manage, not coach (teach) a team. They don't know how to teach each and every aspect of the game. These coaches are easy to spot and usually don't last long.

It is a good idea to have a "Rules Master" in the dugout (or close to the dugout) to help the coach remember those rules. I admit that I forget certain specifics about a rule but I would always quickly get the right answer before attempting to persuade an umpire that he/she made the wrong call.

It is such a joy to see girls play the game that are well educated on the rules of the game and have been taught good strategy and playing techniques. When a coach has girls like that, then he can be called a "manager".

 

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Well the ump clarifies the rule to both the catcher and the coach, awards the girls first and leaves it at that.

Under which rule did the umpire award first?

 

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Hit batter of course! Lol ... just kidding ... great question ... unless it was ball 4. By the way, where was the catcher supposedly throwing to when she hit the batter?

 

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Ranger...this ticks me off too. Not as much as the defensive coach not knowing the rules but rather his/her way of solving a "problem."...throwing a ball directly into an opposing player at close distance. Without knowing the ages involved...my experience is girls learn this Bush Leage behavior from adults. The coach should reassess his/her actions and take immediate action to change.

 

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A throw does not need to be made for an umpire to rule obstruction/interference.

 

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Seen a similar situation last winter. Runner on third, big lead off, catcher pops to throw and stops. Coach yells out to the ump, "interference" and then yells at the catcher "Why didn't you throw?" catcher says "She was in my way." coach says and I quote "Next time throw it at her head and you'll get the call" Thankfully, no throws at someones head, but I was shocked!!

 

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It's the batter's and they should just stand there and just ensure they aren't intentionally swinging a practice swing or purposely stepping in catchers way, otherwise too bad catcher....do your drop step and throw around her. Does she whine when the umpire doesn't graciously get out of her way? Ours were trained to move the ump with their arms cautiously as they go back behind the umps too.... It's all In The training they receive...

 

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A throw does not need to be made for an umpire to rule obstruction/interference.

True, however it needs to be apparent to the umpire that the catcher wanted to make a throw and halted it because of interference and not some other reason (e.g. bad grip or saw no chance to get runner).

There also has to be an opportunity to make an out for an umpire to call interference.

It's the batter's and they should just stand there and just ensure they aren't intentionally swinging a practice swing or purposely stepping in catchers way, otherwise too bad catcher....do your drop step and throw around her.

Intent to interfere is irrelevent. The batter has to hold their position and the catcher has to work around them. Any movement by the batter that impedes the catcher can be grounds for interference.

 

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Last year I had a batter called out for interference, when they were trying to remove themselves from a play at the plate on a passed ball and runner on third. The catcher was chasing the ball up the thirdbase line after it bounced off the back stop. The batter unaware of where the ball was stepped back out of the box into the catchers way.The runner held at third. With a runner on third..when does the batter need to hold their position? And when do they need to move?

 

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Sadly, that will not be the last time you hear something like that. The team that Shyne99 is referring to, is known for being a little "dirtier" than average.

 

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This story would have been one for the ages had she beaned the first base coach. :lmao:

 

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Last year I had a batter called out for interference, when they were trying to remove themselves from a play at the plate on a passed ball and runner on third. The catcher was chasing the ball up the thirdbase line after it bounced off the back stop. The batter unaware of where the ball was stepped back out of the box into the catchers way.The runner held at third. With a runner on third..when does the batter need to hold their position? And when do they need to move?

A batter is obligated to vacate any space needed by the defense to make a play when a runner is advancing to the plate.

The rule book meaning of "make a play" is to have an opportunity to record an out. It doesn't really sound like there was such an opportunity on this one. The runner on third held, so there obviously wasn't a play at home. The only potential play would seem to have been a pick-off at third.

IF...the batter somehow impeded the catcher from having a realistic chance at getting an out on the runner at third, then interference would be the correct call. Otherwise, you just have incidental contact without penalty.

 

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I always thought the batter has the right to the box. If the batter steps out of the box and disrupts the throw its interference. The catcher has to be the one that has to move to avoid the batter in the box. That is what my daughter was taught when she played catcher. If there is a play at the plate then the batter needs to move out of the box to avoid interference, but not at a pickoff play at third or any other base.

 

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I always thought the batter has the right to the box. If the batter steps out of the box and disrupts the throw its interference. The catcher has to be the one that has to move to avoid the batter in the box. That is what my daughter was taught when she played catcher. If there is a play at the plate then the batter needs to move out of the box to avoid interference, but not at a pickoff play at third or any other base.

You're mainly correct, however the batter's box is irrelevent to interference.

- On a play at the plate, as Bretman posted, "A batter is obligated to vacate any space needed by the defense to make a play..."

- On a pickoff play, the catcher has to work around where the batter was positioned. Beyond finishing their swing, the batter can't move into the catcher's way - regardless of whether it is within the box or out of it.

 

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The runner on third held, so there obviously wasn't a play at home.

Could this be some gray area? I cannot imagine anyone will pick off too many runners on a passed ball. I also imagine the batter, catcher, runner and umpire could have different perspectives on weither the runner could score on a passed ball.

 

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The runner on third held, so there obviously wasn't a play at home.

Could this be some gray area? I cannot imagine anyone will pick off too many runners on a passed ball. I also imagine the batter, catcher, runner and umpire could have different perspectives on weither the runner could score on a passed ball.

Your batter was in a very awkward situation. Sounds like she moved anticipating a play at the plate. If so, it turned out she didn't need to move since the runner held up. Whenever a batter moves, they have to be careful they don't interfere with a player trying to make a play.

Runners do get picked off on passed balls - typically they go part way, stop and can't get back in time.

Everybody at the field could have different perspectives, but the only one that matters is the umpire(s). It's not really a question of whether the runner could score on the passed ball. It's whether the batter interfered with the defense's opportunity to make an out.

 

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Everybody at the field could have different perspectives, but the only one that matters is the umpire(s).

True! Thanks for the help, that is a situation as a coach, I want make sure I can coach to, to avoid again. Oh, and sorry for the hijack...Yeah, intentionally throwing at a player is terrible advise from a coach.

 

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its a batters box they don't have to move. its the catchers job to work around them

 

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its a batters box they don't have to move. its the catchers job to work around them

ASA and NCAA rules both say the batter’s box is not a sanctuary for the batter when a play is being made at the plate.

NFHS rules (2011) say the batter has to make a reasonable effort to vacate congested area when there is a throw to home and there is time for the batter to move away.