When Basepaths Collide: Understanding Runner Interference and Baseball’s “Right of Way”
I once read that car accidents are often caused by a driver who didn’t see the other driver. I’m sure in some situations, neither driver saw the other. This is true in the game of baseball when a runner impedes a defensive player from making a play or a defensive player hinders a runner who…
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…
Rangers-Angels Runner Interference Call Sparks Debate
The Angels and Rangers played at Globe Life Field on April 15, 2025. In the bottom of the sixth the Rangers had Corey Seager on first base and one out when Josh Jung hit a fly ball in the direction of Angels’ first baseman Nolan Schanuel. Seager paused near Schanuel and was called out by…
Batter-Runner Interference Results in Ejection
The Marlins and Rays played at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa on June 6, 2025 in front of 8,448 fans. In the top of the third, Xavier Edwards was batting facing the Rays’ Zack Littell with Dane Myers on second and no outs trailing, 1-0. Edwards bunted the ball to the third base side…
Two Runner Interference Plays in 2024
Runner Interference Rule with Infield Fly Rule For the third time this season, there was a runner interference call in the middle of an Infield Fly rule play. The Mariners and Red Sox played at Fenway on July 31, 2024. With one out and runners at first and second in the bottom of the seventh…
Runner’s Lane Interference at 2022 College World Series Changes Everything
In the final game of the 2022 College World Series between Ole Miss and Oklahoma, a video replay enforced the penalty for the violation of runner’s lane interference. With such a significant game on the line, it was touted as controversial, but applying the rule from the NCAA it is actually a very easy call….
6 Rules Questions Answered by Rich Marazzi
Question #1 – Can Interference Be Unintentional Q. In the April 30th, Jersey Shore BlueClaws (Phillies) vs Aberdeen IronBirds (Orioles) South Atlantic League game, the following play occurred. Should the batter have been called for interference? Aberdeen had Adley Rutschman on second, Coby Mayo on first with Jacob Teter at bat and less than two outs. Mick Abel was pitching for Jersey Shore…
Runner hit by batted ball…..is the runner always out?
When a runner is hit by a batted ball, he is not always out. Umpires must assess the situation and apply the proper rule. The most common form of this violation is when a runner is struck by a batted ball in front an infielder and impedes him from making a play. The runner is…
The Runner’s Right of Way Rule….Did the Umpires Apply it Wrong?
The Guardians hosted the White Sox on April 21. In the bottom of the seventh, the Guardians had Josh Naylor on second with no outs when Ernie Clement hit a chopper to Sox shortstop Tim Anderson. Naylor ran into Anderson as he was attempting to field the ball and the ball came out of Anderson’s…