Batter Interference with Runner Stealing

Saw this called last night for the first time in a long time, so I looked up the rule as I thought the runner was out automatically on the interference call.

Stretchy - this seems like a lot of interpretation for the home plate umpire to both call interference on the batter in the box AND determine if the runner would have been thrown out (runner was returned to first last night)...see Play 6 below...

Baseball RETIRED OFFENSIVE PLAYER

a) Prevents play on another runner: If a retired runner (or batter) prevents a play in a double-play situation, the runner on whom the defense would have played is out. If the umpire cannot determine on whom the fielder would have played, the runner who has advanced nearest to home is out. The umpire must judge that the defense could have completed the double play without the interference.
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Note: In OBR and NCAA the double play is automatic.
Play 6: R1 stealing. B1 strikes outs and interferes with the catcher’s throw. Ruling: If the umpire judges the catcher could have thrown out the runner, R1 is out. If he judges R1 had the base safely, the penalty is: R1 must return.

 

Umpires nightmare...

Very tough to really call both outs...since majority of runners are usually safe it is best to return runner after calling batter out.

 

Different rule

The rule you're using is a totally different rule. With batters interference on the steal, the batter is out, the runner is sent back. If it is strike three, the runner is out as well. With two outs, the runner would be out unless the batter has struck out thus the interference is ignored.
The rule ur using is the rule that is applied with strictly a runner. Anytime there is interference, runner is out, and in umpire's JUDGEMENT, he may get the second out as well.

 

and I'm with stretchy if ur gonna use the aforementioned rule on the interference call. Im just gonna send the runner back.

 

I respectfully.....

Disagree. If you have interference on a batter that has struck out, you must call the runner stealing out. You can't just send the runner back to his original base. Now, if you don't want to call interference to begin with, I understand... its a tough call and you need to be sure the catcher was attempting to put out the advancing runner AND the batter's illegal actions prevented that.

Whether or not you thought the catcher would have put the advancing runner out is irrelevent, the fact that he was interfered with and was not given the opprotunity to try to put the runner out is what you have to decide.

 

From the rule book

Page 43 Rule 7-3-5 Batter interference with catcher throwing:

Penalty: When there are two outs, the batter is out. When there are NOT two outs and the runner is advancing to home plate, if the runner is tagged out, the ball remains live and interference is ignored. Otherwise, the ball is dead and the runner is called out. When an attempt to put out a runner at any other base (3rd/2nd) is unsuccessful due to the batter interference, the batter is out and all teh runners return to the base occupied at the time of the pitch.
IF the pitch is a third strike and in the umpire's judgement interference prevents a possible double play then the runner MAY BE ruled out.

Granted most umpires will want to call the runner out as well to get home a wee bit sooner....lol

In NCAA it is an automatic double play...batter and runner are out if batter strikes out and interferes with catcher.

 

ok....

Ok, I'm with you on that. Its amazing how many rules are different from OBR & NCAA. It doesn't sound like much, but that is a huge difference.

Obstruction is another one. The obstruction rule in HS is so different than NCAA & OBR! Don't even get me started on the DH rule.

People (and some umpire's) don't realize how different the rules are between the 3 books.