We had a situation this weekend where there were runners on first and second. Batter hits a ground ball to the shortstop. As she is going to field the ball the runner from second runs in front of her, causing more of a distraction for the shortstop and she can't make the play. Runner did not hit the ball, just got in the way. Is this interference?
Clarification please
- Thread starter MK37
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In most cases interference is a judgment call and it's hard to guess without seeing the play. Was this interference? Most definitely and positively...maybe! Or, maybe not...
Here are some things an umpire might have to consider to form his judgment:
Was the runner simply running in a straight line to the next base? Or, did the runner alter her path to get closer to, or be more distracting to the fielder?
Did the runner slow down or pause so that she timed her pass in front of the fielder to be at the same moment the ball was getting there?
Was the fielder playing back behind the runner and set in one spot, waiting for the ball to come to her?
Was the fielder charging in and had to check up, or alter her path to the ball, due to the runner's presence?
You can see that there are a lot of variables to consider. But simply passing in front of a fielder who is fielding the ball is not automatically interference.
Here are some things an umpire might have to consider to form his judgment:
Was the runner simply running in a straight line to the next base? Or, did the runner alter her path to get closer to, or be more distracting to the fielder?
Did the runner slow down or pause so that she timed her pass in front of the fielder to be at the same moment the ball was getting there?
Was the fielder playing back behind the runner and set in one spot, waiting for the ball to come to her?
Was the fielder charging in and had to check up, or alter her path to the ball, due to the runner's presence?
You can see that there are a lot of variables to consider. But simply passing in front of a fielder who is fielding the ball is not automatically interference.
- Jul 9, 2012
- 137
- 18
Did this happen to be at the Mankato tournament in MN this weekend? There was one ump there this weekend that called this interference more times on Saturday and Sunday than I've seen it called over the last few years.
Bretman and Comp have covered the judgments involved for the umpire to determine if this is interference or not.
The other question I would ask would be what age level was this game? The threshold for interference could be different based on the age level involved. Just another judgment to make.
The other question I would ask would be what age level was this game? The threshold for interference could be different based on the age level involved. Just another judgment to make.
