Safe or out?

[Getpaddled]

fighting with a few of my friends over this... What is the CORRECT call?

safe or out?

[brewers19]

I call obstruction on the pitcher, and the runner is safe.

[gypcasino]

My first thought is interference on the pitcher and the runner is safe.

[bball123h2]

Out. The fielder is making a play on a live ball, and the runner is supposed to avoid the fielder in such situations (or so I think).

 

Rule 7.08 (b)

The runner is out when:

(b) He intentionally interferes with a thrown ball; or hinders a fielder attempting to make a play on a batted ball;

Rule 7.08(b) Comment: A runner who is adjudged to have hindered a fielder who is attempting to make a play on a batted ball is out whether it was intentional or not.

[DHonks]

yep, out

[thablingster]

I'd say out, because the pitcher is entitled to getting the ball just as much as the runner is entitled to the line, so if they collide the runner is out.

[sbrylski]

Out, for sure.

[brewers19]

The fact that it first deflected off the pitcher makes me want to say that the fielder no longer has priority over the runner. Nothing to back that up, just a gut feeling.

[trwi7]

Out

[pogokat]

no doubt about it, he's out...

[dadofandrew]

The runner has to allow the fielder to field a ball. The fielder can go after any live ball, he just cannot impede the runner when he's not fielding the ball.

 

Out.

[bball123h2]

In situations such as these, it is the runner's responsibility to avoid the fielder, even if it means leaving the baseline. In this case, the runner actually could have run on the infield grass to avoid the collision and been safe (had he actually reached base).

[ajgodson]

Outta there! The runner has to try to avoid him, which he does by trying to jump over him. The only questionable part is the pitcher's glove hand being really high and sort of flipping him up. Still out.

[Getpaddled]

so if anyone was on 2nd base could he advance to 3rd or even home?

[dadofandrew]

Sure, it all seemed like a legal play.

[whizkid]

Here's the rest of the 7.08(b) comment:

 

7.08(b) He intentionally interferes with a thrown ball; or hinders a fielder attempting to make a play on a batted ball;

Rule 7.08(b) Comment: A runner who is adjudged to have hindered a fielder who is attempting to make a play on a batted ball is out whether it was intentional or not.

If, however, the runner has contact with a legally occupied base when he hinders the fielder, he shall not be called out unless, in the umpire?s judgment, such hindrance, whether it occurs on fair or foul territory, is intentional. If the umpire declares the hindrance intentional, the following penalty shall apply: With less than two out, the umpire shall declare both the runner and batter out. With two out, the umpire shall declare the batter out.

If, in a run-down between third base and home plate, the succeeding runner has advanced and is standing on third base when the runner in a run-down is called out for offensive interference, the umpire shall send the runner standing on third base back to second base. This same principle applies if there is a run-down between second and third base and succeeding runner has reached second (the reasoning is that no runner shall advance on an interference play and a runner is considered to occupy a base until he legally has reached the next succeeding base).

 

It talks about run-downs but gives the general principle. It looks like no advancing to me.

[dadofandrew]

I didn't think the runner interfered, so I thought the other runners could advance.

[Getpaddled]

just to clear this up... the man that was on 2nd base is stuck on 2nd? or could he take 3rd?

[whizkid]

Just my opinion but it looks to me like according to the rule the batter interfered with the pitcher making the play but since he was out anyway, it wasn't called. Had there been runners on and less than two outs, interference should have been called and my interpretation of the rule is that the runners can't advance, i.e. they have to return to their original base. JMO from reading the rule, nothing authoritative here.

[jschris]

I think WhizKid is right--if interference on the batter-runner is called than no advance by another runner would be allowed. The ball would be dead and all would go back to their original bases. However, it doesn't appear that interference was called on this play and the out was recorded at first base on the force. Assuming that's true, then certainly other runners could advance.