drop 3rd strike

Question
ASA
A catcher drop a ball on a 3rd strike. Ball get away. Batter-Runner running toward 1st base to color base,  Catcher throw ball from outside foul line, hit batter-runner. I see in rule book in 8.2.M.4 (if this apply to this play?) states that defense and th batter-runner may use either  the white or colored portion of the base, so no interference? When do we call interference if drop 3rd strike occured? What about the 1st baseman standing on white color base so batter-runner run to color base. No call?

Answer
Hi Randy,

There's a couple things that can go on here.  Defensive player and b-r can now use either part of the base.  If the runner is in the 3' lane and does not intentinally interfere w/ the throw there is no interference.

The b-r can also run outside the 3' lane in fair territory when the throw is coming from the foul side of 1st base and the defensive player is using the colored portion and if hit by a thrown ball it is not interference unless intentional. (8-2-e)

As long as the b-r is doing 1 of the 2 above I would not have interference on the play you described.

If F3 is standing on the base (either base in this situation) w/out the ball and it impeded the b-r I would have obstruction.

Mark