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…
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…
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…
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…
August 2024 Rules Question and Answer
Question #1 What constitutes passing a runner per rule 5.09 (b) (9)? Is the trail runner considered passing the lead runner if any part of his body passes the lead runner, or does the body of the trail runner have to go completely by the lead runner? In this Eastern League game between the Altoona…
2024 One Base Beyond Rule
The Rays and Yankees played in New York on July 19, 2024 when a relatively obscure rule almost came alive. In the bottom of the fourth, Juan Soto, batting with the bases empty and two outs, facing Zach Eflin, doubled to deep left field. Rays left fielder Randy Arozarena fumbled the ball as it caromed…
Passing the Baserunner
One of the most intriguing plays of the first half of the 2024 season occurred in Anaheim where the Astros and Angels played on June 9, 2024. In the bottom of the ninth with the score tied 7-7, the Angels had Kevin Pillar on first and one out when Logan O’Hoppe drilled a Josh Hader…
The Many Layers of the Infield Fly Rule
The A’s and Rangers played at Globe Life Field on April 11, 2024. In the bottom of the seventh, the Rangers had Adolis Garcia on second and Jonah Heim on first and one out when Jared Walsh hit a fly ball in the area of the pitcher’s mound. Several A’s converged on the ball. A’s…
Runner Abandonment 2023
Moore Out for Runner Abandonment The Royals hosted the Mariners on Aug. 17, 2023. In the top of the seventh, Dylan Moore was batting with one out. He hit a looping fly ball to left fielder MJ Melendez who made a running, sliding attempt to catch the ball and dropped it. Moore, thinking the ball…