Controversial Batter-Runner Interference Non-Call
Batter-Runner Interference Not Called The Twins hosted the White Sox on April 22, 2025. The Twins had Luke Keaschall on second base and two outs when Trevor Larnach, facing Davis Martin, hit a tapper between home and first. The ball was fielded by Sox catcher Edgar Quero who fired to first. The ball struck Larnach…
Langford’s Missed Base and Gonzalez’s Missed Tag: Appeal Play
Play No. 1 The Rangers and Red Sox played at Fenway on May 7th. In the top of the third, the Rangers had Josh Jung on second and Jonah Heim on third with one out when Wyatt Langford hit a tapper to the third base side of the mound. The ball was fielded by Tanner…
July 2025 Question and Answer
Question No. 1 In the following play, the batter-runner was running on the infield grass on the way to first base. Why wasn’t the batter-runner called out for interference because he was running out of the Runner’s Lane? This is the play you are referring to. The Cubs and Phils played at Citizen’s Bank on…
Runners Failing to Retouch Bases in Critical Plays: Rule 5.09 (c) (2)
Play No. 1: Runner Makes No Effort to Retouch Base The Cubs and Cardinals played at Busch on June 26, 2025. In the top of the first inning, the Cubs had Ian Happ on first base and one out when Seiya Suzuki, facing Andre Pallante, hit a drive deep to right. Alec Burleson made a…
Rare Visual Obstruction Calls in Dodgers vs Mets
The Dodgers beat the Mets 7-5 in 13 innings on May 23, 2025 when third base umpire Tripp Gibson, gave a clinic on the topic of visual obstruction by making two such calls. The last time I saw such a call made was in 2004. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Pete Alonso was…
Robles Catch and Carry
The Mariners and Giants met at Oracle Park on April 6, 2025. In the bottom of the ninth with the score tied, 4-4, the Giants had Luis Matos on first base and one out when Patrick Bailey sent a fly ball into the corner deep down the right field line. Mariners’ right fielder Victor Robles…
Spectator Interference Overturned
The Cardinals and Red Sox played at Fenway on April 4, 2025. In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Sox had Triston Casas on third base and Wilyer Abreu on first and one out when Kristian Campbell hit a fly ball down the right field line. Cards’ right fielder Jordan Walker caught the fly…
Batter Runner Interference Costs Guardians vs Orioles
The Guardians and the Orioles played at Camden Yards on April 16th. In the top of the eighth, the Guardians had the bases loaded and one out when Ángel Martínez, facing Yennier Canó, hit a tapper back to the mound. Canó flipped the ball underhand to catcher Adley Rutschman for the force. Rutschman then fired…
Elly De La Cruz’s Stolen Base Thwarted by Batter Interference Call
The Reds hosted the Mariners at Great American Park on April 16, 2025. In the bottom of the eighth, Austin Hays was batting with a 0-2 count facing Gabe Speier with Elly De La Cruz on first base. Hays struck out, and De La Cruz, who was stealing on the play was also called out…