4/29/09 - Rules - Batter's Interference Rule Clarified
As rule questions come up over the season, we will post the answer as part of the News Section as well as add them to the Ump's and Coach’s Corners.
Question: What happens when the batter, standing in the batter’s box, gets in the way of a catcher attempting to tag the runner out trying to steal home.
Wow!!! What a tough one to start with, my eternal thanks to Cyndi Wilk.In order to come up with the appropriate answer, several Little League rulings come into play. Here they are…
LL Rule 6.06c – A batter is out for illegal action when interfering with the catcher’s fielding or throwing by stepping out of the batter’s box or making any other movement that hinders the catcher’s play at home plate. Exception: Batter is not out if any runner attempting to advance is put out or if runner trying to score is called out for interference.
LL Rule 7.09c – It is an interference by a batter when – before two are out and a runner on third base, the batter hinders a fielder in making a play at home base, the runner is out.
Interpretation: There are a couple of interesting things here. At first glance, it would appear pretty simple. If the batter stays in the batter’s box and doesn’t make any movement then he/she is fine. However, it’s never that easy. If the play were to be happening so quickly that the batter could not react in time (Umpire’s judgment) then yes, the batter is entitled to the batter’s box. However, if the batter HAS time to react and does not move or intentionally stays in the box with the purpose of actually getting in the way than that is interference. Again, I must repeat, this is strictly at the umpire’s discretion.
The second interesting thing is this. If there were less than two out when the play begins, it is the runner who is called out due to the interference by the batter. The batter would be allowed to continue his/her at bat. However, if there were two outs when the play began, it is the batter who is called out. This is important to note, as the batter who caused the interference would not lead off in the following inning.
The bottom line, there is a lot of discretion left up to the umpire. The rule is hardly written in stone. As a coach, I would instruct my kids to just stay in the box. Because, if they do attempt to move and interfere with the catcher, intentional or not, they will be called out.
4/29/09 - Rules - The "Must Slide" Rule Clarified
It seems I have arguements (usually cordial) with coaches over this rule every year no matter how much I try to explain it pre-season. Here is the rule. Any runner is out when - the runner does not slide or attempt to get around a fielder who HAS the ball and is waiting to make the tag (Little League Rule7.08a3).
Interpretation: Colliding with a fielder who does NOT have the ball does not mean the runner is out. The fielder MUST be in possession of the ball in order for this rule to apply. Addtionally, if the runner collides with the fielder during an attempt to get around him/her, the rule does not apply. In a case where the fielder does not have the ball and is blocking the runner's path, it is obstrction on the FIELDER.
After years of disagreements over this, it seems, Little League has come to my rescue. Please take a look at Video J on the Little League website found here...