Batter Interference

[law101]

R1 is attempting to steal 2nd and pitcher throws pitch into the dirt. Catcher doesn't field it cleanly (goes to knees with no attempt to throw to 2nd base) and batter swings extremely late. Batter steps directly in front of plate shielding the catcher. Even though the catcher is on his knees, would the fact that the batter stepped in front of the catcher still be considered batter interference? I believe in this particular situation, the fact that the pitch was not handled by the catcher with no attempt to throw to 2nd, it wouldn't be batter interference. Am I correct?

[abevillarreal]

law, you are correct. the batter must interfere with something, a throw, or attempted throw. also I would have a hard time enforcing BI on a wild pitch/passed ball unless it was blatent.

[law101]

The reason this is confusing to me is because my understanding of batter interference is that there doesn't have to be an "attempt" by the catcher to constitute batter interference.

Even with a pitch in the dirt and no attempt to throw by the catcher, I can see the defensive coach getting raising hell with the PU for not calling batter interference when the batter has clearly moved completely in front of the plate and catcher.

[CoachJM]

The reason this is confusing to me is because my understanding of batter interference is that there doesn't have to be an "attempt" by the catcher to constitute batter interference.

...

law101,

There's the crux of the issue.

Some attempt (to make a play) IS required by the catcher in order for there to be anything to interfere with.

No attempt - no interference. If the catcher initiates an attempt and then aborts it due to the interference, THEN you could get interference; but the catcher must at least initiate an attempt.

JM

[golanthius]

Situation: R1 on first attempting to steal second. Batter swings at the pitch and the backswing hits the catcher causing the catcher to alter his throw and it goes off line. The batter never leaves the batters box.

Does the batter have the responsibility to control his bat and/or swing?

Would this be Batter Interference?

My ruling on the play: Any action by the batter causing the catcher to alter his movement or his throw constitutes BI. Thus, I ruled batter is out for interference and R1 is returned to first base. (catcher would not have thrown R1 out anyway).

Comments welcome.
Thanks

[bobjenkins]

Situation: R1 on first attempting to steal second. Batter swings at the pitch and the backswing hits the catcher causing the catcher to alter his throw and it goes off line. The batter never leaves the batters box.

Does the batter have the responsibility to control his bat and/or swing?

Would this be Batter Interference?

My ruling on the play: Any action by the batter causing the catcher to alter his movement or his throw constitutes BI. Thus, I ruled batter is out for interference and R1 is returned to first base. (catcher would not have thrown R1 out anyway).

Comments welcome.
Thanks

OBR: "Weak Interference". Send R1 back, no outs.

FED: Batter's Interference. Batter out, send R1 back.