- May 29, 2013
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The 6+ page discussion on interference over in the rules forum got me thinking about this one. Torn which forum this belongs in, but I think it's more technique/coaching and less rules.
Hypothetical situation: Runner stealing 3B. C sidesteps to clear for the throw to 3B as NECC teaches, but the RH batter has stepped backward out of the box and is now directly in the line of the throw.
Would you expect that the PU would call INT immediately, or wait to see what C does? (we play USSSA mostly)
If there's no immediate INT call, then what should the catcher do at that point? Throw in a direct path to the base (even if that's through the batter at point blank range)? Avoid the batter and hope the throw still gets there (slide further left, throw over the batter, step back in front) Push the batter aside and throw? Yell "OUTTA MY WAY!"? Turn to blue and ask "you gonna call that?"?
I would have thought this would normally draw an immediate INT call on the Batter, but not so sure after several umpires posting on the latest INT thread made it clear they can't assume a player knows what to do and can execute, so they need to see a "quality throw" that has a chance of making an out before calling INT (at least that's what I took away... but that was also a totally different circumstance, so that's why I am asking here.).
Hypothetical situation: Runner stealing 3B. C sidesteps to clear for the throw to 3B as NECC teaches, but the RH batter has stepped backward out of the box and is now directly in the line of the throw.
Would you expect that the PU would call INT immediately, or wait to see what C does? (we play USSSA mostly)
If there's no immediate INT call, then what should the catcher do at that point? Throw in a direct path to the base (even if that's through the batter at point blank range)? Avoid the batter and hope the throw still gets there (slide further left, throw over the batter, step back in front) Push the batter aside and throw? Yell "OUTTA MY WAY!"? Turn to blue and ask "you gonna call that?"?
I would have thought this would normally draw an immediate INT call on the Batter, but not so sure after several umpires posting on the latest INT thread made it clear they can't assume a player knows what to do and can execute, so they need to see a "quality throw" that has a chance of making an out before calling INT (at least that's what I took away... but that was also a totally different circumstance, so that's why I am asking here.).