DOUBLE_L wrote:Thanks, not the answer I expected. So if the plate umpire got in the way of a catcher going after a past ball would that also be interference. I would consider this similar but have never heard it called.
UmpSteve wrote:DOUBLE_L wrote:Thanks, not the answer I expected. So if the plate umpire got in the way of a catcher going after a past ball would that also be interference. I would consider this similar but have never heard it called.
Actually, no. Similar isn't the same.
There are exactly two times that umpire interference can happen; no other time is the umpire anything but part of the field.
1) If hit by an untouched batted ball before it passes an infielder (other than pitcher); or2) If umpire interferes with a catcher's attempt to throw out a runner on a steal or pickoff.
Those two instances are not examples nor considered similar to anything else. They are the sole exceptions to the standard rule.
Comp wrote:Based on the prescribed starting positions the umpires are suppose to be in by the manual, no it should not be able to happen. We are to be positioned behind the infielders at the time of the pitch, so to get hit by a batted ball before an infielder has a chance to field it the umpire would have to be totally out of position.
UmpSteve wrote:Comp wrote:Based on the prescribed starting positions the umpires are suppose to be in by the manual, no it should not be able to happen. We are to be positioned behind the infielders at the time of the pitch, so to get hit by a batted ball before an infielder has a chance to field it the umpire would have to be totally out of position.
And are you saying umpires are never out of position? In any event, if it should happen, there is a rule to cover it,
BTW, there is (or was) a USSSA mechanic for slowpitch, at least, putting the base umpire inside the infield up the middle. I don't know the details, have never learned or call U-trip, but have been told that is a mcehanic.
GIMNEPIWO wrote:
I did see this :
With runners on 2nd & 3rd ... F5 playing up and F6 playing normal depth ... I know one Ump that I have seen positioned about 10 feet off the line and 5 feet behind the bag ... If hard hit ball was to get past F5 and hit the Blue when F6 still had an opportunity to field the ball and make an out ... ( Being lazy and not opening the book right now at work ) Do we have Umpire INT ?