After The Pitch, Interference?

[NYFP]

12u Pony Tourney, My DD behind the plate. 4yrs of travel ball and I've never really seen this so flagrant. Opposing team had a curious habit, while runners on base, of either taking a pitch or swinging and then whipping the bat back and forth through the strike zone as my DD was attempting to return the ball to the pitcher or looking back the runner. My main concern was my DD breaking her hand. P/U stated my DD had to learn how to step out to make the throw since the batter was still in the box there was nothing he could do. Common sense tells me that the batters actions were dangerous and illegal, perhaps I'm wrong, no I cannot recite a rule that addresses this.

[SnocatzDad]

ASA Rules Supplement

33 Interference
B. Batter Interference "It occurs in fastpitch when the batter intefere's with the catcher's throw on an attempted steal"

Most umpires start getting on kids early about taking practice swings in the batters box while play is live after a pitch and before the catcher returns the ball to the pitcher with runners on. They do this out of self preservation because it's just as likely that the batter will hit them as the catcher as both move to make (or see) the play on a runner.

Unfortunately I'm not sure if they can call anything until they feel that interference has occurred (i.e. catcher has to make the throw and umpire has to either see interference in that contact was made with the offending bat, or the catcher somehow modified her throw to avoid contact) the simplest thing to do might be to tell your catcher to hit the bat with her throw which should result in an immediate dead ball runners return to bases and the batter being called out.

[Coach11]

12u Pony Tourney, My DD behind the plate. 4yrs of travel ball and I've never really seen this so flagrant. Opposing team had a curious habit, while runners on base, of either taking a pitch or swinging and then whipping the bat back and forth through the strike zone as my DD was attempting to return the ball to the pitcher or looking back the runner. My main concern was my DD breaking her hand. P/U stated my DD had to learn how to step out to make the throw since the batter was still in the box there was nothing he could do. Common sense tells me that the batters actions were dangerous and illegal, perhaps I'm wrong, no I cannot recite a rule that addresses this.

First thing to do in this instance is to bring it to the umpires attention immediately....as in, the first time a batter does this. Don't wait until it's late in the game and such an obstruction might be that much more costly.

Secondly, I'd speak to my catcher......alert her to it. Have her become intentionally interfered with. If she can get her glove hit by the bat as she is attempting or faking a throw down, she will likely draw the call.

[anonlooker]

One timer. High and inside. Problem solved.

[ocdad]

I guess I have a follow up question to this one. I had a similar situation where batter was interferring with my catcher, I just told her to come up to throw and if the batter is in your way push her out of your way with your glove hand and lets see what the blue will call. I did tell her to make sure to tell the Blue why she had to do that. My question is what would have been called, if anyone knows?

[umpinva]

12u Pony Tourney, My DD behind the plate. 4yrs of travel ball and I've never really seen this so flagrant. Opposing team had a curious habit, while runners on base, of either taking a pitch or swinging and then whipping the bat back and forth through the strike zone as my DD was attempting to return the ball to the pitcher or looking back the runner. My main concern was my DD breaking her hand. P/U stated my DD had to learn how to step out to make the throw since the batter was still in the box there was nothing he could do. Common sense tells me that the batters actions were dangerous and illegal, perhaps I'm wrong, no I cannot recite a rule that addresses this.

It's all about judgment. Since interference wasn't called the PU didn't think there was interference.

If the batter's in the box, F2 can step to the side to return the ball to F1 as stated in the OP. Had F2 made a play on a runner while the batter was "swinging and then whipping the bat back and forth through the strike zone", interference could have been called if the PU judged the batter's actions to have interfered with the out attempt.

[wadeintothem]

A batter interfering with a throw is INT.

She has got to come up throwing - dont push the batter, that wastes time. By the time she pushes a batter swinging a bat the runner is dusting herself off at 2.

Those two points made - I would suggest a road to getting a call where otherwise you arent getting it. There is going to be some onus on a catcher being able to properly do their job and their is going to be batters doing the slightly delayed swing type stuff... and you probably arent going to get that call.

What I would suggest is between batters kind of make PU aware of it. This is where a good catcher relationship that I talked about in my post about F2's working with umpires comes in handy. Between batters tactfully mention "yeah you see that..." "ok catch I'll watch for it". Have a good f2 do it, if you can; but if you have to maybe the coach. I believe this to be between F2 and PU though.

Then, come up throwing and IF there is INT hope for the call. Obviously the coach should be aware too so that if interference ISNT called, coach can have a chat and I think when its all said and done the matter will be handled in some way - either PU kind of mentioning it to the other coach to chill out, getting a INT call or something.

In other words, dont look for a magic slogan one phrase answer - like high and inside or push the batter, work the situation.

[Clean_up]

A batter interfering with a throw is INT.

She has got to come up throwing - dont push the batter, that wastes time. By the time she pushes a batter swinging a bat the runner is dusting herself off at 2.

Those two points made - I would suggest a road to getting a call where otherwise you arent getting it. There is going to be some onus on a catcher being able to properly do their job and their is going to be batters doing the slightly delayed swing type stuff... and you probably arent going to get that call.

What I would suggest is between batters kind of make PU aware of it. This is where a good catcher relationship that I talked about in my post about F2's working with umpires comes in handy. Between batters tactfully mention "yeah you see that..." "ok catch I'll watch for it". Have a good f2 do it, if you can; but if you have to maybe the coach. I believe this to be between F2 and PU though.

Then, come up throwing and IF there is INT hope for the call. Obviously the coach should be aware too so that if interference ISNT called, coach can have a chat and I think when its all said and done the matter will be handled in some way - either PU kind of mentioning it to the other coach to chill out, getting a INT call or something.

In other words, dont look for a magic slogan one phrase answer - like high and inside or push the batter, work the situation.

Very tough to get this call; we had a situation where a lefty batter struck out swinging, she then hit our catcher by swinging her bat backwards and knocked the ball out of her glove when the bat split her forearm open and she was unable to make the throw to first base because of the injury. Batter was called safe at first.

[NYFP]

I believe this type of play begs for a rule change, a broken arm or hand is a definite possibility.
The P/U should have discretion as to whether he believes it appears to be an attempt to intentionally interfer or distract the catcher. If there is no legitimate purpose for the batter to immediately start taking practice swings it should be forbidden and can only be taken as a attempt to interfere. Once the ball is in the catchers mitt the batter is no longer in play until the ball returns to the field. Now if my DD did as the P/U said and had to take a step or two outside of the batter to make the throw there are going to be alot of stolen bases and I don't believe he would rule this as making her alter her throw. Its a shame that kids may lose their season or ability to play because contact has to occur first or the catcher has to alter her throw to accomodate a batter swinging through the strike zone while she is attempting to throw the ball to get the call. It only takes one hit to the hand by a bat to result in catastrophe. Blue should be allowed to address it before it happens. You could potentially run out of catchers when facing a team that allows this. My only concern was the potential hospital run I may have been in for and it was kind of unnerving watching my DD behind the plate knowing she may be seriously injured for some stupid play. Thanks for your responses, I've learned something.

[umpinva]

The P/U should have discretion as to whether he believes it appears to be an attempt to intentionally interfer or distract the catcher.

The PU does have discretion. As I mentioned earlier, if the PU judges the batter's actions to interfer with F2's ability to make a play, intererference could be called.

If there is no legitimate purpose for the batter to immediately start taking practice swings it should be forbidden and can only be taken as a attempt to interfere. Once the ball is in the catchers mitt the batter is no longer in play until the ball returns to the field. Now if my DD did as the P/U said and had to take a step or two outside of the batter to make the throw there are going to be alot of stolen bases and I don't believe he would rule this as making her alter her throw.

The batter feels she needs to continue loosening up. Couple of quick swings in the box between pitches might take care of it. By rule the batter can't step out of the box without being granted time out, so the swings occur while she's in the batter's box.

If your DD has to take a step or two outside to make a play on a runner and in the PU's JUDGMENT this detour hindered her ability to make the play, then batter's interference could be called.