Joe Shlabotnik wrote: ↑April 7 22, 12:55 pm
AWvsCBsteeeerike3 wrote: ↑April 7 22, 11:59 am
@joe shlabotnik
If a batter hits a ball that hits off the pitcher and the SS initially breaks towards 2nd, and there is a runner on 2nd, and the SS reverses course into the basepath and collides with the runner that can not avoid him due to the course reversal, is that runner interference?
Here's the full breakdown:
SS is holding the runner somewhat close to 2nd pre-pitch
During the delivery he slides back and to the left
Ball is hit
SS breaks towards 2nd behind the runner/Runner from 2nd takes off for 3rd
Ball hits pitcher and deflects towards initial SS position but very slowly
SS cuts into the runner from 2nd causing a collision
No chance after the deflection there was going to be a play at 1st or 3rd if that even matters.
What's the ruling?
I believe this is the same across LL, HS, and OBR.
It depends on who the umpires believe to be the 'protected fielder'. There is only one fielder that can be protected from interference by a runner on a ball in play. I didn't see the play in question so I can't give you an opinion. Things I'd look for:
- Did the pitcher have a reasonable chance at fielding the ball that hit him? IOW, was the deflection an error on the pitcher's part? If so, I'd rule the pitcher as the protected fielder who missed his chance at the batted ball. So obstruction on the SS.
- If not E-1, than after the deflection who had the best chance to field the ball? You said it was rolling slowly toward the SS hole and there was no chance at runners at any base. Without seeing the play, I interpret that to mean the ball was closer to the pitcher than the SS. Again, obstruction on the SS.
- If the ball was sharply hit such that the pitcher had no reasonable chance to initially field it and then it deflected more than half way toward the SS, I could understand protecting the SS in this case. Interference on R2.
In the end, this is a judgement call. So whatever the umpire judged was 'correct'. Their reasoning, of course, might be faulty.
Rule 7.90(j) LL
Rule 8-4-2(g) NFHS
Rule 6.01(a)(10) OBR
What did you have?
Thank you!
So the ruling was incidental contact or simply no ruling was made.
I thought it was obstruction just because the SS was obstructing runners every chance he could and likely took this as a chance to try to get an interference call by intentionally colliding with the runner. And then holding him, but whatever.
Which brings up this question.
Let's take a routine softly hit groundball to 2B with a runner advancing from 1st to 2nd. Is the 2B allowed to time his fielding of the ball to cause a collision with the runner in order get an interference call? Say the 2B does a split step and stops right in the runners basepath, runner adjusts towards the infield to avoid a collision, and then the 2B runs towards the ball causing a collision. What's the call there?
Lastly, back to the original play I was talking about, does the deflection not nullify the interference call?
6.01 a 10:
(10) He fails to avoid a fielder who is attempting to field a batted ball, or intentionally interferes with a thrown ball, provided that if two or more fielders attempt to field a batted ball, and the runner comes in contact with one or more of them, the umpire shall determine which fielder is entitled to the benefit of this rule, and shall not declare the runner out for coming in contact with a fielder other than the one the umpire determines to be entitled to field such a ball.
After the deflection, regardless of rather or not the pitcher should have made the play, it's no longer a batted ball but just a live ball, no?
Similarly, if a batted ball deflects off a fielder and then hits a runner, the runner is not out, correct? Otherwise, a fielder could throw at a runner (like kickball) and get them out after a batter hits a ball because it would be a batted ball.
ETA: The pitcher made a play on the ball, he didn't get pegged by a comebacker. Rather or not he should have made the play is up to interpretation. It was officially ruled a hit. Keep in mind, the official scorer for the game is a player's dad tasked with keeping the official scorebook, not a trained scorekeeper