With all the focus on the rule changes regarding slides into bases on double play attempts, please bear in mind that a runner may, for all intensive purposes, make a bona fide slide, yet still be guilty of interference.
Official playing rule 5.09(a)(13) states, “A batter is out when a preceding runner, in the umpire’s judgment, intentionally interferes with a fielder who is attempting to catch a thrown ball, or to throw a ball in an attempt to complete any play.” Furthermore, Official rule 6.01(a)(6) states, “If, in the judgment of the umpire, a base runner willfully and deliberately interferes with a batted ball or a fielder in the act of fielding a batted ball with the obvious intent to break up a double play, the ball is dead. The umpire shall call the runner out for interference and also call out the batter-runner because of the action of his teammate. In no event may bases be run or runs scored because of such action by a runner.”
Examples of wilful and deliberate interference include, but are not limited to: grabbing or pulling of the fielder’s foot or leg below the knee (recall that contact initiated above the knee violates the conditions of the bona fide slide checklist), or raising one’s hand(s) for the purpose of hindering the throw to first base.
Although difficult to detect at full-speed, during the slow-motion replay of the following play from last night in the class-AA Texas League, you will see R1 engage in an otherwise bona-fide slide however, as the pivot man throws to first base, R1 extends his right arm straight up in the air. This action hinders the throw to first base and, although initially undetected by U3, is eventually correctly ruled as interference after a crew consultation.
Please note that, when using a 3/4/6 umpire system, it is recommended, but not mandatory, that ALL umpires convene during a crew consultation, as it is possible that an ‘unlikely’ umpire may have pertinent information.
For the purposes of this rule, the runner’s “pathway” shall be the direct route from his initial starting position to the next base. A runner who makes a clear and distinct change in his route to the base shall be judged to have changed his pathway. Conversely, a runner who runs in a straight path or angles his pathway over the course of his entire route to the base shall not be considered to have changed his pathway. For example, a runner who starts from the infield side of the base and angles his pathway to result on the outfield side of the base shall not be judged to have changed his pathway.
A slide shall be deemed appropriate, in the case of a feet first slide, if the runner’s buttocks and legs should hit the ground before contact with the base. In the case of a head first slide, a runner shall be deemed to have slid appropriately if his body should hit the ground before contact with the base. These parameters are from Rule 6.01(i)(1) Comment to the Collisions at Home Plate [former OBR 7.13(1) Comment].
A runner may slide sideways into a base and extend his legs toward a fielder as part of a bona fide slide described in Rule 6.01(j).
If a runner violates Rule 6.01(j), the interference is to be signaled by the umpire pointing laterally at the interference while loudly and clearly stating, “That’s interference!” At that moment call “time” and impose the penalty for interference. DO NOT wait until the “initial” throw is completed before calling time.
Slide Rule Check List:
Bona Fide Slide
– Did the runner begin (make contact with the ground) his slide before the base?
– Was the runner able and did he attempt to touch the base?
– Was the runner able and did he attempt to remain on the base (except home plate)?
– Did the runner refrain from changing his pathway for the purposes on initiating contact with the fielder?
If the answer is “No” to any of these questions, you MAY have a Violation, because the runner did not engage in a bona fide slide. The runner must fail to engage in a bona fide slide AND must interfere with a double play attempt for a violation to be called.
The runner also did not engage in a bona fide slide if he:
– “Roll blocked”
– Initiates or attempts to initiate contact above the knee by kicking his leg
– Throws his arm or upper body at the fielder
Interfere/Impedes/Hinders
– Was the defense attempting to turn a double play?
– Did the runners actions interfere/impede/hinder the fielder in any way?
– Did runners actions make fielder do something different?
If the answer is “No” to any of these three questions, you CANNOT have a Violation.
If the runner failed to engage in a bona fide slide AND interfered with a double play attempt, the umpire shall call “Interference.”
Penalty:
– Runner out
– Batter-runner out UNLESS interfering runner has already been put out in which case, the runner whom the defense is making a play is declared out.
– All runners return to last legally touched base at the time of the interference UNLESS the batter-runner has not reached first base in which case, all runners return to the base occupied at the time of the pitch.
Violation
– Runner was not engaged in a bona fide slide
– Did not attempt to reach base with his hand or foot
– Was not within reach of base without changing his pathway
– Runner initiated illegal contact with fielder by throwing his arm and contacting fielder above the knee
Violation
– Runner was not engaged in a bona fide slide
– Runner failed to attempt to remain on base after completion of slide
Violation
– Runner was not engaged in a bona fide slide
– Runner did not begin his slide before the base.
– Runner failed to attempt to remain on base after completion of slide
No Violation
– Runner was engaged in a bona fide slide
– Began his slide prior to reaching the base
– Was able and attempted to reach base with his hand
– Was able to remain on base
– Was within reach of base without changing his pathway
– Even though runner attempted to initiate contact with fielder by kicking his leg he did not contact the fielder above the knee. This is a legal play
No Violation
– Runner was engaged in a bona fide slide
– Began his slide prior to reaching the base
– Was able and attempted to reach base with his foot
– Was able to remain on base
– Was within reach of base without changing his pathway
– Contact was a consequence of a permissible slide
If a runner violates Rule 6.01(j), the interference is to be signaled by the umpire pointing laterally at the interference while loudly and clearly stating, “That’s interference!” At that moment call “time” and impose the penalty for interference. DO NOT wait until the “initial” throw is completed before calling time.
Because all runners are forced to advance via the batter being AWARDED 1B (without liability to be put out) due to being hit by the pitch, this game ends the moment the batter touches 1B AND R3 touches the plate, irregardless of the actions of both R1 and R2.
Contrast this situation with the following video:
Although R3 and the batter-runner touch home plate and 1B respectively, as the runners are forced to advance in a situation where they ARE liable to be put out, R2 and R1 MUST touch 3B and 2B respectively, in order for the game to end. Had the security guard not touched the live ball in the outfield, the defensive team could have recorded the 2nd and 3rd out in a manner that would have nullified R3’s run, causing the game to continue.
Two Runners Occupying the Same Base
In this video, the lead runner (R3), attempting to evade being put out in a rundown, retreated beyond 3B toward LF, with the following runner (R2) occupying 3B. When R3 went beyond 3B, R2 was now closer to home plate, and had, by rule, passed the R3. At this point, R2 is considered out, however R3, who is now beyond 3B, is still in jeopardy. He could attempt to return to 3B, be tagged out, or if he had progressed far enough beyond / away from 3B, be called out for abandonment.
Thrown Bat Interfering with Catcher Making a Play
This video demonstrates a batter throwing his bat, which strikes the catcher’s glove as he is attempting to catch the pitch. This action denied the catcher the oppourtunity to make a play on the stealing runner. The catcher had not moved into a position where the umpire would have ruled catcher’s interference, therefore the batter would be called out for interference. This play will be treated the same as all other batter interference situations.
Dead Balls
In both of these videos, the fielders made a legal catch, securing the ball while legally on the field before their momentum carried them into the dugout. With runners on base, prior to 2016, under professional rules, both of these plays would have remained live, as the fielder did not fall in the dugout. New for this year professionally, and past practice for several years under Baseball Ontario’s “Catch and Carry” rule, with runners on base, the out would stand however, the ball would immediately become dead once the fielder stepped into the dugout, and with less than two outs, any runners on base would be awarded one base from the base last legally occupied at the time of pitch.
Batter Interferes with Third Strike
In this video, we see the batter, eligible to attempt an advance to 1B due to an uncaught third strike, accidentally kick the ball away from the catcher in his attempt to advance. At the time of this play, the plate umpire properly ruled “That’s nothing.” However, the rule has since been changed; any hindrance by the batter, intentional or unintentional, shall result in the batter being called out for interference.
Definitions of Tag and Touch
In this play, we see the Batter-Runner slide headfirst into 1B in an attempt to avoid the tag of the fielder. Due to the momentum of the B-R’s slide, his batting helmet dislodges from his head. However, as the batting helmet was still in contact with its intended place on the B-R’s body, the helmet is still considered part of the B-R; thus the tag of the helmet shall be considered a legal tag.
In contrast, had the helmet been ruled to have been completely dislodged from the B-R’s head, the helmet would no longer be considered part of the B-R; resulting in the B-R being ruled safe.
Batter’s Box Rule
Unless one of the conditions of Official Rule 5.04(b)(4)(A) (formerly 6.02d) applies, the plate umpire shall require the batter to keep one foot in the batter’s box at all times. For a batter’s first violation, the umpire shall direct the batter to return to the box in a manner depicted above and issue the batter a warning. For a second or subsequent violation by the same batter, the umpire shall declare an automatic strike.
Please stay tuned for a separate post regarding the new rule regarding slides on double play attempts.
Find in this post, a full description of the changes to the Official Rules of Baseball for the 2016 season.
Each addition and deletion of the written rule is provided in this document, as well as a summation to the change in umpiring practice, if applicable, caused by the rule change.
Where possible, video examples of rule changes will be provided shortly.
