Baseball rules corner: batter-runner interference calls can create disputes.(Brief Article)

RULE 6.05(K) INVOLVING BATTER-runner interference fumed up in the first game of the American League Division Series played between the A's and Yankees at Yankee Stadium.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, David Justice tapped a grounder in front of the plate. A's catcher Ramon Hernandez fielded the ball and flipped it underhand to Jason Giambi at first base as Justice was about to reach the bag. The ban struck Justice, and plate umpire Dana DeMuth ruled the Yankee runner out for batter-runner interference.

The rule which has been around since 1881 reads, "A batter is out when in running the last half of the distance from home base to first base, while the ball is being fielded to first base, he runs outside (to the right of) the three-foot line, or inside (to the left of) the foul line, and in the umpire's judgment interferes with the fielder taking the throw at first base; except that he may run outside (to the right of) the three-foot line or inside (to the left of) the foul line to avoid a fielder attempting to field a batted ban."

Keep in mind that regardless of the position of the batter-runner, interference is only called if the umpire believes the batter-runner interfered with the fielder taking the throw at first base.

From this corner, I would question DeMuth's call, since Justice most likely would have been safe whether or not the ball struck him. Justice was only a few feet from the bag when he was struck by Hernandez's soft toss. Also, a batter-runner has to exit the three-foot box to step on the base. Because Justice was hit so late in the play by Hernandez's throw, I think it would have been a better decision by DeMuth to make no can.

In Game Four of the 1969 World Series played between the Mets and Orioles, the rule was the center of controversy surrounding a play that occurred in the bottom of the tenth inning with the score tied, 1-1. The Mets had Jerry Grote on second and Al Weis on first when J.C. Martin bunted the ball toward the first base line that was fielded by Pete Richert, the Baltimore pitcher. Richert threw to first base and the ban struck Martin on the wrist and rolled into foul territory. In the process, Grote raced across home with the winning run.

The Orioles argued that Martin was running illegally inside the 45-foot box en route to first base. The TV replay appeared to support the Orioles' claim. But nobody bothered to ask Shag Crawford and his crew if the alleged interference prevented Boog Powell, the Baltimore first baseman, from taking the throw at first base. It's quite possible that the umpires thought that if the throw was properly ...