Interference while standing on 1B

[Agcy]

Situation of note last weekend at NCAA D2 game...

Windy day - batter hits high pop fly towards F4. Batter jogs to first and waits on the base while the ball comes down. The ball is blown towards first base and F3 attempts to catch the ball right adjacent to the base while the batter is standing on the base. She drops it; possibly made contact with batter that is still standing directly on first base simply watching the ball.

Umpire calls interference on the batter. Apparently told the coach that the batter-runner should have run through first.

While I disagree (the batter-runner had a legal right to the base and does not have to move to avoid the ball) this crew was off all day. Several bang bang calls that both fan bases agreed they got wrong as well as not being in the right position for calls (not sure if lazy or incompetent).

 

[The Man In Blue]

While the runner may have a "right" to the base, they do not have a "need" for the base. There is no need for the runner to stay on or hold first base.

Regardless of that logic, while a runner is not required to vacate a base to make room, they also may not interfere with the fielder making the play. There is not an exception, the interference takes precedence.

Vertical fist tap from me ... sound like it was a good call.

 

[cvsoftball]

What happens if the fielder drops the ball, recovers the ball, and then tags the runner before the runner can get back to the bag?

 

[The Man In Blue]

Sounds like an out to me.

 

[Northball]

Sounds like an out to me.

So darned if you do vacate, darned if you don't vacate?

 

[cvsoftball]

Then it sounds like the runner had a "need" to stay on the base, eh?

 

[The Man In Blue]

So darned if you do vacate, darned if you don't vacate?

You don't have to vacate. You just can't interfere.

 

[The Man In Blue]

Then it sounds like the runner had a "need" to stay on the base, eh?

First base on a batted ball? No.

 

[uncdrew]

So darned if you do vacate, darned if you don't vacate?

You can vacate into foul territory. Right?

I mean like if you ran out a grounder.

 

[cvsoftball]

Thank you, TMIB.