re rule book trivia in article io maine maine edu ryan robbins io maine maine edu writes if i were the manager i d argue that the runner was out of the base line since he was to the left of the first base line if the umps don t budge which they won t they nev er admit when they are wrong i d file a protest with the league 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 so what is your definition of interfering with the fielder taking the throw the rule book certainly doesn t have a definiton or clarification so it s possible to interpret the rule as saying that if the catcher has to alter his throw to avoid hitting the batter runner then again we have interference you know it seems that there is no way to apply this rule justly if the catcher or the pitcher say rob dibble for example throws toward first and hits the runner running inside the baseline the fielder takes the chance of being ejected therefore he probably would throw around the runner or your scenario above him you should note that in our american legion league which uses mlb rules we interpret the rule to say in this very circumstance there is interference per rule rstimets
