Amazingly Facile Umpire

Question
Hi Mark,    i had three separate instance in a game tonite that were confusing. all three involved multiple runners on for my team and less than two out. All three involved the umpire being talked into a call by their bench after the play had ened.    One was catchers interference. After we got a hit that scored two runs, their bench claimed their catchers had ticked our batters bat with her glove. the umpire decided to believe them, all runners were sent back to the bases, no runs scored.    The next was a runner on third and a dropped third strike. Our runner scored on the thrown down to first and our batter was safe at first. They claimed the runner had to go back due to our leagues no stealing home rule.    The third was an infield fly rule. It was not called during the play, but afterwards by their bench coercing the umpire. The play was a soft liner over the head off their SS that went off her outstretched glove. I know this is a judgement call, but the umpire admitted she only called it after the play had ended because their bench coaches were suggesting it.     Comments?             F

Answer
HI Greg,

Sorry for the delay, I'm not getting my questions after the last upgrade, I have to check on them manually (I guess).


Here my answer to a similar question

It is not catcher interference but catcher obstruction.  Defensive players obstruct, offensive players interfere.

CO is a delayed dead ball.  If the batter hits the ball, reaches 1st base safely and all other runners advance at least 1 base the CO is cancelled.  All action as a result of the batted ball stand.  If all runners do not advance at least one base (including the batter-runner) the manager of the offensive team has the option of taking the result of the play or awarding the batter 1st base and advancing other runners only if forced.

So you can see the results of the play stand.  No option is given.

#2 I can't help you with that as it seems to be a local rule.

#3 A line drive by rule is not an infield fly (rule 1) but an "infield fly" is a fly ball that can be caught with ordinary effort.  We both know the difference between a fly ball and a soft line drive (and it must be catchable with ordinary effort.)

Hope this helps

Mark