Two Batter Interference plays that occurred six days apart are worth a look. Play Number 1 On August 31st the Astros hosted the Rangers at Tropicana Field in Florida because of Hurricane Harvey. In the bottom of the first, the Astros had George Springer on first base and no outs when Alex Bregman swung through […]
Normally, when you think of batter-runner interference, you think of the batter-runner who runs out of the 45-foot long, 3-foot wide runner’s box the last 45-feet and interferes with the fielder taking the throw. But batter-runner interference can occur long before the batter-runner reaches the box. Once the ball is batted into fair […]
In my opinion the umpire in the Blue Jays-Angels game on April 24 misinterpreted a backswing interference call that might have affected the outcome of the game in the Blue Jays 2-1 loss. There is a distinction between two types of batter interference covered in rule 6.03 (a) (3) and (4) Comment: For the sake […]
In my opinion the umpire in the Blue Jays-Angels game on April 24, 2017, misinterpreted a backswing interference call that might have affected the outcome of the game in the Blue Jays 2-1 loss. There is a distinction between two types of batter interference covered in rule 6.03 (a) (3) and (4) Comment: For […]
Why Didn’t Dusty Baker Protest Follow-Through Interference? Did Yankees Gary Sanchez Violate a Rule on the Final Out of the Game? Was that Interference on Carlos Correa that Allowed the Winning Run to Score? Expert Rules Analysis Here CONTROVERSY #1 In the most important game played by the Nationals all year long could the […]
When a batter hinders a catcher making a play, it is basic batter interference. It usually happens that a batter swings at a pitch, misses and then falls into the space of the catcher who is attempting to throw out a runner. The batter is out and the runner(s) are returned to their previous base. […]
When ruling on batter interference, the plate umpire must distinguish if the catcher’s throw was to prevent a stolen base or to pick-off a runner on a base. He must consider the following: Throw to Prevent a Stolen Base Any movement that hinders the catcher’s play can constitute batter interference. This is true […]
It is common to see a batter drop his bat in fair territory in the area in front of home plate. Usually this results in no further complication of the play. But when the dropped bat touches a batted ball, every umpire, coach and player should know the rule. Live batted ball A batter is […]
When a batter swings at a pitch and the follow through of his swing brings the bat around and makes contact with the catcher or the ball in back of him on the backswing, it is backswing interference. The pitch will be called a strike only, not interference. It is commonly referred to as “weak” […]
Instances of Interference: Please see the [Interference, Obstruction, and Base Path Collisions] course for more detail Batter’s interference 6.01(a) A batter might interfere with a catcher’s throw to a base. A batter might interfere with a play at the plate. A batter might interfere with a catcher when his swing follow-through carries around to make contact with […]