re rule book trivia in article io maine maine edu ryan robbins io maine maine edu writes rule k states it is interference by a batter or runner when in running the last half of the distance from home base to first base he runs outside the three foot line or inside to the left of the foul line and in the umpire s judgment interferes with the field er taking the throw at first base the key word in the rule is and a runner isn t out just for running out of the baseline he s out for interfering with the fielding of the ball or throw or fielding of the throw to first because the catcher opted to throw the ball over the batter runner s head there s no inter ference sorry i still don t buy it you re certainly right that the runner is not out merely for running out of the baseline he must interfere with the play but the argument here is over what constitutes interference you certainly cannot infer from what you ve quoted that the batter runner must be hit by the ball to be guilty of interference you haven t posted a definition of interference at all imo this calls for one of the approved ruling s that go in small print in the rulebook something like approved ruling if in the judgement of the umpire the runner by running to the left of the allowed path caused the fielder to make a bad throw blocks the vision of the fielder receiving the throw or otherwise impedes the defensive team s making a play on him the batter runner shall be judeged guilty of interference or approved ruling the runner cannot be judged guilty of interference in the unless he makes contact with a fielder or is hit by the thrown ball in the absence of such an approved ruling i claim that this is a poor rules trivia question since it cannot be authoritatively answered len reed holos software inc voice ext domain lbr holos atl ga usa uucp lbr holos uucp
