Batter Interference

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MTR

Jun 22, 2008
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the batter has no right to be in the way of the play, there should be no penalty for contact with them. they are not a BR trying to reach a base or HP. on the other hand, the defense absolutely has the right to make a play. I was using a littler hyperbole, but I cannot see how the batter remaining in the box is in any way defensible.

Who said it was?

if they made contact with the ball, they either need to run to 1B or ball is dead. if not, they are not a part of the play, and if they are in the way (and no contact needed for this as is so often stated), it is should be interference. BB is no safe haven. perhaps the best way to consider it would be to consider them a retired BR. they have an obligation to not interfere with the defense, they have no right to any particular spot/lane (just like a retired BR does not have the right to the shortest path back to dugout, they are obligated to stay out of the way of the defense).

Still waiting to see someone arguing with your points here?
and much less chance of P getting hurt bumping batter out of the way then trying to apply a tag to BR coming in hard to HP. If you are going to protect them, just cede the run on any PB/WP with runner on 3B.

and sometimes you do have to throw to the spot (conditional upon seeing/knowing that the person is moving to that spot), much like C throwing to corner of 2B on a steal, it is SS job to get there, if C waits for SS to be there, throw will never be in time. same for a steal home, P knows where to receive it, and should be moving to get there, and C and P should have worked on this already to know the timing, etc.

You know, what if your DD was playing 2B and just standing near 2B watching the ball in the OF and a runner comes by and clips your daughter and knocked her to the ground and injuring her knee? Offense insists that isn't an issue because she had no right being near the base. You okay with that? Speaking USA, there is no rule addressing this situation. Proposed one about a decade ago and it went nowhere.

But here is what is going to happen if there is a decent umpire on the field. S/he will let the play finish, call time and eject the runner for UC. In the past, I've added a little twist when it was obviously intentional. I hand my card to the player, parents (if appropriate) and coach and tell them to have their lawyer give me a call if they take it any farther.

You are correct, the player did not belong there, but that does not give the opposition the right to physically assault a player no matter how stupid or ignorant their actions, or lack of seem to be.

BTW, I have done this three times.
 
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