- Aug 30, 2021
- 2
- 1
Hello;
I've got a question on a play that happened in one of my games last Sunday. Pretty sure I made the right call:
"Runners on 1st and 2nd, nobody out. The batter hits a sharp liner towards second base (without touching the ground) almost up the middle. The shortstop lunges to make the play but collides with the runner, who had stopped as he did not want to interfere with the shortstop.
On the play, the centerfielder threw the ball towards 3rd base, and the forced out was applied on the runner on 2nd base. Out comes the defensive team's manager who wanted me to call a double play, as he is sure his shortstop was going to catch the ball and tag the runner on 2nd base out. Meanwhile, the offensive team's manager is crying defensive interference as he is sure the shortstop got into the runner's lane when he saw that he could not catch the ball.
After consultation with my base umpire: I ruled that there is no defensive or offensive interference, that the runner on 2nd was ruled out at 3rd base on the force play. I told the manager that I can't make a decision based on a supposition. From my position, I'm sure if he would've caught the ball, he would've lost his balance (from his momentum) and could not have a play at 2nd. Did we make the right call?
Thanks for your feedback.
Luc Lang,
Quebec, QC, Canada
I've got a question on a play that happened in one of my games last Sunday. Pretty sure I made the right call:
"Runners on 1st and 2nd, nobody out. The batter hits a sharp liner towards second base (without touching the ground) almost up the middle. The shortstop lunges to make the play but collides with the runner, who had stopped as he did not want to interfere with the shortstop.
On the play, the centerfielder threw the ball towards 3rd base, and the forced out was applied on the runner on 2nd base. Out comes the defensive team's manager who wanted me to call a double play, as he is sure his shortstop was going to catch the ball and tag the runner on 2nd base out. Meanwhile, the offensive team's manager is crying defensive interference as he is sure the shortstop got into the runner's lane when he saw that he could not catch the ball.
After consultation with my base umpire: I ruled that there is no defensive or offensive interference, that the runner on 2nd was ruled out at 3rd base on the force play. I told the manager that I can't make a decision based on a supposition. From my position, I'm sure if he would've caught the ball, he would've lost his balance (from his momentum) and could not have a play at 2nd. Did we make the right call?
Thanks for your feedback.
Luc Lang,
Quebec, QC, Canada