Alex Rodriguez commits interference, 2004

In baseball, interference is an infraction where a person illegally changes the course of play from what is expected. Interference might be committed by players on the offense, players not currently in the game, catchers, umpires, or spectators; each type of interference is covered differently by the rules. ^[1] Alex Rodriguez commits offensive interference on Bronson Arroyos tag attempt as Doug Mientkiewicz converges on the play (AP) This work is copyrighted. ... Alex Rodriguez commits offensive interference on Bronson Arroyos tag attempt as Doug Mientkiewicz converges on the play (AP) This work is copyrighted. ... Baseball on the professional, amateur, and youth levels is popular in North America, Central America, parts of South America, parts of the Caribbean, and East Asia. ...

Offensive interference

The most common incidence of interference is when a member of the offensive team physically hinders the defensive team, decreasing their chances to make an out or increasing the chance that a baserunner will advance. Whenever this offensive interference occurs, the ball becomes dead. If the interference was committed by a batter or a baserunner, that player is called out and all other runners must return to the bases they occupied at the time of the interference. If interference is committed by a runner with the possible intent of preventing a double play, the batter-runner will be called out in addition to the runner who committed the interference. If interference is committed by the batter-runner before he reaches first base with the possible intent of preventing a double play, the runner closest to scoring is called out in addition to the batter-runner. If interference is committed by a retired runner or by some other member of the offensive team, the runner who is most likely to have been put out will be called out. In baseball, when the ball is dead, no runners may advance beyond bases they are entitled to, and no runners may be put out. ... Barry Bonds batting Photo:Agência Brasil In baseball, batting is the act of facing the opposing pitcher and trying to produce offense for ones team. ... In baseball, baserunning is the act of running around the bases performed by members of the team at bat. ... In baseball, an out occurs when the defensive team effects any of a number of different events, and the umpire rules a batter or baserunner out. ... After stepping on second base, the fielder throws to first to complete a double play In baseball, a double play (denoted on statistics sheets by DP) for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. ... In baseball and softball, batter-runner is a term for the batter during the play in which he/she becomes a baserunner. ...

Under little league (LL), high school (NFHS) and college (NCAA) rules, if interference is committed by a runner with the effect of preventing a likely double play, regardless of his intent, the batter-runner will be called out in addition to the runner who committed the interference. Also under LL and NFHS rules only, all runners are required to attempt to avoid collisions; if a runner fails to do so, he is guilty of malicious contact, which is one kind of offensive interference. Malicious contact carries the additional penalty of ejection from the game. In addition to the general subjective definition of offensive interference, it is also interference by specific rule when^[2]: The National Federation of State High School Associations (or NFHS) is the body which oversees and governs most high school interscholastic athletics and extracirriculars in the United States at the national level. ... The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA, often said NC-Double-A) is a voluntary association of about 1200 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletics programs of many colleges and universities in the United States. ... After stepping on second base, the fielder throws to first to complete a double play In baseball, a double play (denoted on statistics sheets by DP) for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. ...

• The bat hits the ball a second time in fair territory, such as while the bat is being dropped;
• A batter or runner intentionally deflects the course of a batted ball in any manner;
• A member of the offensive team stands near a base to impersonate a baserunner or to otherwise confuse or hinder the defense;
• A coach physically assists a runner in returning to or leaving first or third base;
• A batter is struck by a ball thrown from the home plate area while running to first base with a foot entirely outside the three-foot running lane, before the batter reaches first base;
• A runner makes contact with a batted ball that did not go through or by a fielder, unless no infielder had a chance to immediately field the ball (in this instance, the runner is out and the batter is credited with a base hit);
• A runner makes contact with a fielder attempting to field a batted ball, except the batter with the catcher in the immediate vicinity of home plate immediately after the ball was batted; or
• A member of the offensive team intentionally touches a thrown ball, or intentionally hinders a fielder attempting to make a throw.

There are some exceptions to the penalty for offensive interference.

• If there are fewer than two outs and a runner is trying to score, and the batter interferes with the tag attempt at home plate, then the runner is out for the batter's interference, while the batter is not out. If there are two outs in this situation, the normal interference penalty applies: the batter is out and the run does not score.
• The major exception is when a runner is attempting to score and the catcher has control of the ball; if the catcher is in the path between third base and home plate, the baserunner may strike the catcher with his body in an attempt to dislodge the ball from the catcher's hand. This is usually only attempted when the play is close; when the catcher is set up and ready, the runner has little chance of knocking the ball away and a significant chance of injuring himself.

The position of the third baseman A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in the sport of baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base, the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in a counterclockwise succession in order to score a run. ... Home plate is the final base in baseball and related games that a player must touch to score. ...

Cases

On Tuesday, October 19, 2004, in game six of the 2004 American League Championship Series, Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees intentionally swatted the arm of Boston Red Sox pitcher Bronson Arroyo, who was attempting to tag Rodríguez out. The ball came loose, initially enabling Rodríguez to advance and the previous runner Derek Jeter to score, but instead Rodríguez was ruled out on the interference, under the general definition of the rule above. is the 292nd day of the year (293rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The 2004 American League Championship Series was a Major League Baseball playoff series played between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. ... Alexander Emmanuel Alex Rodriguez (born July 27, 1975, in New York, New York), commonly nicknamed A-Rod, is a Dominican-American baseball infielder. ... Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 23, 32, 37, 44, 49 Name New York Yankees (1913–present) New York Highlanders (1903-1912) Baltimore Orioles (1901-1902) (Also referred to as... Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 4, 8, 9, 27, 42 Name Boston Red Sox (1908–present) Boston Americans (1901-1907) Other nicknames The BoSox, The Olde Towne Team, The Sox Ballpark Fenway Park (1912–present) Huntington Avenue Baseball Grounds... Bronson Anthony Arroyo [ah-ROY-yoh] (born February 24, 1977 in Key West, Florida), is a popular Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds and a rock musician. ... In baseball a tag out, sometimes just called a tag, is a play in which a baserunner is out because he is touched by the fielders hand holding a live ball while the runner is in jeopardy. ... Derek Sanderson Jeter (born June 26, 1974 in Pequannock Township, New Jersey) is an American Major League Baseball player. ...

A famous uncalled instance of offensive interference occurred in the third game of the 1975 World Series. With a runner on first, Cincinnati Reds player Ed Armbrister laid down a sacrifice bunt. Red Sox Catcher Carlton Fisk attempted to field the ball and throw to second base and get the lead runner out. However, Armbrister did not immediately run to first base but instead stood essentially still in the vicinity of home plate, forcing Fisk to jump into him in order to make the throw. As a result, Fisk's throw went into center field, and the Reds ended up with runners on first and third and none out. The Red Sox protested, saying that Armbrister interefered, but home plate umpire Larry Barnett refused to change the call. As a result, the Red Sox lost the game, and ultimately lost the series in seven games, arguably in part due to the Armbrister play. Barnett allegedly received death threats from embittered Red Sox fans for months after the Series had concluded. Edison Rosanda Armbrister (born July 4, 1948 Nassau, Bahamas) is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who had a 5-year career from 1973 to 1977. ... Carlton Ernest Pudge Fisk (born December 26, 1947 in Bellows Falls, Vermont) is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played for 24 years with the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox. ...

Umpire's interference

It is umpire's interference when the umpire hinders a catcher's attempt to throw anywhere. In this case, if the catcher's direct throw retires a runner the play stands, if not, the ball is dead and all runners must return to their time of throw bases. Home plate umpire Gary Darling signals that the last pitch was a strike In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and meting out discipline. ...

It is also umpire's interference when an umpire is struck by a fair batted ball before it touches or passes an infielder other than the pitcher. This can occur because umpires often position themselves inside the diamond. In this case, the ball is dead, the batter-runner is awarded first base, and all other runners advance only if forced. This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Catcher's interference

Catcher's interference is called when the catcher physically hinders the batter's opportunity to legally swing at a pitched ball. This occurs most often when a catcher squats too close to home plate, so that the batter's bat touches the catcher's glove as the batter swings. This is most likely to happen on attempted steals where the catcher is anxious to catch the ball as soon as possible and may move his entire body or glove forward a bit. The position of the catcher Catcher is also a general term for a fielder who catches the ball in cricket. ...

In this case, play continues, and after continuous playing action ceases, the umpire will call time. The penalty here is that the batter is awarded first base, any runner attempting to steal is awarded that base, and all other runners advance only if forced. Additionally, the catcher is charged with an error. However, if the actual playing result is more advantageous than the penalty, the offense may elect to ignore the infraction (e.g., if the batter-runner reaches first safely and all other runners advance at least one base, catcher's interference is ignored by rule). The all-time stolen base leader, Rickey Henderson, swipes third in 1988. ... In baseball, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance should have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder. ...

Under high school (NFHS) rules only, catcher's interference is instead called catcher's obstruction.

Spectator interference

When a spectator or other person not associated with one of the teams alters play in progress, it is spectator interference (colloquially called fan interference). The ball becomes dead, and the umpire will award any bases or charge any outs that, in his judgment, would have occurred without the interference. In baseball, when the ball is dead, no runners may advance beyond bases they are entitled to, and no runners may be put out. ...

Such interference often occurs when a spectator in the first row of seats reaches onto the field to attempt to grab a fair or foul fly ball. If the umpire judges that the fielder could have caught the ball over the field, he will rule the batter out on spectator interference. Also, the spectator who commits interference is usually ejected from the stadium. Note that spectators are allowed to catch a ball that is in play when the ball is on the spectator' side of the wall, even if in doing so they interfere with a player who is also trying to catch the ball.

Umpires typically clasp their hands together over their head as a signal when spectator interference occurs.

Cases of possible spectator interference

Jeffrey Maier's interfreence, 1996

On October 9, 1996, Jeffrey Maier became well-loved in New York but hated in Baltimore over an obvious spectator interference that was not called by the umpire. In the eighth inning of Game 1 of the American League Championship Series, with the Yankees trailing 4-3, Derek Jeter, the Yankee shortstop, hit a fly to the right field wall. Oriole right fielder Tony Tarasco backtracked and positioned himself to catch Jeter's fly ball just short of the wall. Maier, a 12-year-old spectator seated in the bleachers, reached out to catch the ball, and deflected it away from Tarasco and over the fence. Umpire Rich Garcia incorrectly ruled the play a home run when the proper call would have been to call Jeter out on spectator interference (Garcia later said he believed the ball was uncatchable, which would have resulted in a double). Maier's interference and Garcia's missed call resulted in a game-tying home run for Jeter. The Yankees won the game in extra innings and prevailed in the series in five games. Jeffrey Maier steals an out from the Orioles, giving the Yankees Derek Jeter a home run. ... Jeffrey Maier steals an out from the Orioles, giving the Yankees Derek Jeter a home run. ... is the 281st day of the year (282nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Jeffrey Maier (born September 24, 1984) is an intern scout for the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team, but is best known for an incident involving him as a young fan: for deflecting a ball in play during Game 1 of the 1996 American League Championship Series between the New York Yankees... In Major League Baseball, the American League Championship Series (ALCS), played in October, is a playoff round that determines the winner of the American League pennant. ... Derek Sanderson Jeter (born June 26, 1974 in Pequannock Township, New Jersey) is an American Major League Baseball player. ... Tony Tarasco is a former Major League baseball outfielder for the Atlanta Braves, Montreal Expos, Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds, New York Yankees, and New York Mets from 1993 to 2002. ...

On October 14, 2003, Cubs fan Steve Bartman was vilified for his role in preventing Chicago Cubs fielder Moises Alou from catching a foul fly ball in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series. In the eighth inning, with one out, one man on base, and with Chicago holding a 3-0 lead, five outs away from their first World Series in 58 years, Florida Marlins second baseman Luis Castillo popped up a foul into the seats along the third-base line. Several spectators stood to catch the ball, including Bartman, who deflected the ball from Alou, who had jumped in an effort to catch the ball. This was not a case of spectator interference, because the fly ball was not over the field, but over the seats, and the would-be out was properly ruled a foul ball. Bartman later stated that he was caught up in the excitement of the moment and didn't even think that the ball might be catchable by Alou. Subsequently, Castillo reached first base on a walk, and the Marlins proceeded to score eight runs in the inning to win the game; they went on to win the series. is the 287th day of the year (288th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 2003 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Steve Bartman (top middle wearing black sweatshirt) and Moises Alou both reach to catch the foul ball hit by Luis Castillo that made him infamous Steven D. Steve Bartman (born October 1, 1977) [1] [2].is a resident of the Chicago area, who gained notoriety on the evening of October... Major league affiliations National League (1876–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 10, 14, 23, 26, 42 Name Chicago Cubs (1902–present) Chicago Orphans (1898-1901) Chicago Colts (1890-1897) Chicago White Stockings (1870-1889) (a. ... Moisés Rojas Alou (born July 3, 1966 in Atlanta, Georgia) is an All-Star outfielder in Major League Baseball. ... In Major League Baseball, the National League Championship Series (NLCS) determines who wins the National League pennant and advances to baseballs championship, the World Series, facing the winner of the American League Championship Series. ... For other events named World Series, see World Series (disambiguation). ... Major league affiliations National League (1993–present) East Division (1993–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 5, 42 Name Florida Marlins (1993–present) Ballpark Dolphin Stadium (1993–present) a. ... Luis Antonio Castillo (born September 12, 1975 in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic) is a Major League Baseball second baseman for the Minnesota Twins. ...

Weak interference

Several situations arise in baseball that are considered, by logical extension of the rules, not to be severe enough to warrant an interference call, but nevertheless require enforcement to maintain fair play. These are known to umpires as weak interference^[3], though this term itself does not appear in the rules. These well-defined incidents are not severe enough to be considered offensive interference. When weak interference occurs, the ball is usually called dead, but no further penalty is assessed against a baserunner or batter.

Weak interference is called when:

• A catcher touches the batter or his bat before a pitch
• A foreign object or animal flies between home plate and the pitcher before or during a pitch
• A non-participant or member of the offensive team grasps a live ball, but no play is affected and no runners attempt to advance
• The pitcher stops his pitching motion because the batter induced him to do so, such as by asking for time.
• A baserunner tries to confuse a fielder by trying to call him away from catching a pop fly by impersonating another fielder calling for the ball.

In baseball, when the ball is alive (or in play), the game can proceed. ... In baseball, when the ball is dead, no runners may advance beyond bases they are entitled to, and no runners may be put out. ...

Cases

On March 24, 2001 during the 7th inning of a spring training game against the San Francisco Giants, Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks threw a fastball that struck and killed a dove that was flying between him and the batter. The bird flew over catcher Rod Barajas's head and landed amid a "sea of feathers". The ball was called dead, (as was the bird) and the incident was ruled "no pitch". The Diamondbacks went on to win 10-5 without further incident. is the 83rd day of the year (84th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... A Grapefruit League game at the LA Dodgers camp in Vero Beach, Florida In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of exhibition games which precedes the regular season. ... Major league affiliations National League (1883–present) West Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers NY, NY, 3, 4, 11, 24, 27, 30, 36, 42, 44 Name San Francisco Giants (1958–present) New York Giants (1885-1957) New York Gothams (1883-1885) Other nicknames Jints, Gigantes, G-Men Ballpark AT... For other persons named Randy Johnson, see Randy Johnson (disambiguation). ... Major league affiliations National League (1998–present) West Division (1998–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 42 Name Arizona Diamondbacks (1998–present) Other nicknames The D-Backs, The Snakes Ballpark Chase Field (1998–present) a. ... Subfamilies see article text Feral Rock Pigeon beside Weiming Lake, Peking University Dove redirects here. ... Rodrigo Richard Barajas (born September 5, 1975 in Ontario, California) is a catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. ...

On May 30, 2007 during the 9th inning of a game against the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, running from second base on a two-out pop fly, ran between Blue Jays third baseman Howie Clark and shortstop John McDonald. As Rodriguez passed behind Clark, he either shouted "Ha" (according to Rodriguez) or "Mine" (according to Clark). Thinking that McDonald was calling for the ball, Clark backed off, allowing the ball to drop for a run-scoring infield single. There was no interference called on the play, but Rodriguez immediately became involved in a heated verbal altercation with Blue Jays manager John Gibbons that ended with the umpires having to physically separate the two before blows could be exchanged. The Yankees went on to win the game 10-5. Rodriguez was harshly criticized after the game (Gibbons was quoted as saying it was "bush league") and defended his actions by saying that the play "didn't make a difference." is the 150th day of the year (151st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... --> Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Major league affiliations American League (1977–present) East Division (1977–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 42 Name Toronto Blue Jays (1977–present) Other nicknames The Jays Ballpark Rogers Centre (1989–present) a. ... Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 23, 32, 37, 44, 49 Name New York Yankees (1913–present) New York Highlanders (1903-1912) Baltimore Orioles (1901-1902) (Also referred to as... Alexander Emmanuel Alex Rodriguez (born July 27, 1975, in New York, New York), commonly nicknamed A-Rod, is a Dominican-American baseball infielder. ...

Common misconceptions

When a fielder hinders a baserunner, the situation is called obstruction, not interference. Baseball commentators will often mistakenly refer to obstruction as interference.^{[citation needed]} In baseball, when a fielder illegally hinders a baserunner, the fielder is guilty of obstruction. ...

Not all physical contact in baseball is interference. Accidental contact that has little or no effect on play will usually be ignored; physical contact must result in an advantageous situation for the offense to be considered offensive interference.

A base does not provide a runner immunity from an offensive interference call; a runner is required to avoid a batted ball or a fielder going after a batted ball, even if it means vacating a base where he wishes to remain. The only exception is that a runner is not held liable if an infield fly touches him as he tries to avoid it yet remain on a base. In baseball, the infield fly rule is a special case designed to prevent the defense from gaining an unfair double play by intentionally allowing an easy fly ball to drop to the ground. ...

For the most part, intent to interfere is not necessary for interference to be called; however, a runner cannot be called for interference with a throw or a fielder making a throw unless such a hindrance was indeed intentional.

References

1. ^ http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/official_info/official_rules/definition_terms_2.jsp Sec. 2.00 (Definition of Terms) of MLB's Official Rules, which includes the definition of interference
2. ^ http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/official_rules/runner_7.jsp Rules 7.08b,g, 7.09
3. ^ Jaksa, Chris and Rick Roder. The Rules of Professional Baseball: A Comprehensive Reorganization and Clarification. 2002. Available from http://www.rulesofbaseball.com/