Catcher’s Interference: Some Batters Will Do Anything to Get On Base
The Golden Age of Catcher’s Interference It’s safe to say that we are in the golden age of catcher’s interference. In the last three full seasons excluding the truncated 2020 shortened 60-game campaign, the number of catcher’s interference calls has increased each year. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, there were 61 violations in 2019;…
Catcher’s Interference: A Potential Game-Changing Decision for a Manager
Perhaps the most impactful catcher’s interference call of the 2020 season occurred in the deciding game of the White Sox vs. A’s series in Oakland. With the score tied 4-4 in the bottom of the fifth, Tommy La Stella was batting for the A’s with Sean Murphy on first base and two outs when La…
Violations of Catcher’s Interference on the Rise
The video helps you understand everything about catcher’s interference, something that has drastically increased recently in Major League Baseball. This video will explain why catcher’s interference is on the rise, explain the rule in detail and the options that a manager has when this is called. Rich Marazzi Rules consultant/analyst: Angels, D’backs, Dodgers, Nationals, Orioles,…
Catcher’s Interference: All Runners Advanced on the Play
In previous reports, I covered the topic of catcher’s interference and how the increase in calls is concerning and is an underrated problem in the game. In two recent Red Sox games the catcher’s interference rule played a major role in victories for the Sox. In the April 15, 2023 contest between the Angels and…
Rule of the Week – Catcher Interference Won’t Always Stop the Show
How should an umpire respond to catcher interference? Watch the video! This week we’re discussing catcher interference. Catcher interference is when a batter swings and touches the catcher’s glove. The umpire points and calls out, “that’s catcher interference” – but the ball remains alive and the play develops! If the batter gets a base…
What Do You Know? 9 Rules Questions from 2018
1. There’s a runner on first, catcher’s interference is called and the batter safely makes it to first as a result of the play. If the runner on first (after safely reaching second base), makes an attempt for third base during the play and gets thrown out, does the offensive coach have the option to…
Backswing Interference
Backswing interference is sometimes called “follow-through” interference. It is covered under rule 6.03 (a) (3) and (4) Comment. The penalty is not as severe as your traditional or regular batter interference when the batter’s missed swing takes him into the throwing lane of the catcher. When that occurs, the batter is out unless the runner…