Interference

[mfritsch]

Batter rips a hard ground ball up the middle on the right side of second base. Ball hits runner who was going. Runner is called out for interference. What about the batter? Does the scorekeeper have to determine if it he thinks it would have been a hit or not and score it accordingly? If so, what if he determines it was a routine ground ball, how is that scored? Fielder's choice? Doesn't feel right...

[OhioTex]

this has come up periodically before, the scorer has some judgement to do.. if a hit or a fielders choice..

Here are some exceprts form MLB rule book for guidance.

MLB
10.05 Base Hits
A base hit is a statistic credited to a batter when such batter reaches base safely, as set forth in this Rule 10.05.
(a) The official scorer shall credit a batter with a base hit when:
...
5) a fair ball that has not been touched by a fielder touches a runner or an umpire, unless a runner is called out for having been touched by an Infield Fly, in which case the official scorer shall not score a hit;

....
(b) The official scorer shall not credit a base hit when a:
...
(5) runner is called out for interference with a fielder attempting to field a batted ball, unless in the scorer's judgment the batter-runner would have been safe had the interference not occurred

[shebs]

Is the attached rule below still valid if it occurs with two outs?

That is, two outs .. Ground ball near SS which the runner off of second unintentionally skims the short stop (which is runner interference) yet its unlikely that the SS would have been able to field the ball and get the batter-runner out at first base. So obviously, the runner on 2nd is out making it the third out. What do you do with the batter runner? Is that a hit and then inning ends on the 3rd out dead ball runner interference?

thanks







".........(b) The official scorer shall not credit a base hit when a:
(5) runner is called out for interference with a fielder attempting to field a batted ball, unless in the scorer's judgment the batter-runner would have been safe had the interference not occurred ..."

[OhioTex]

i am not sure.

I can not think of a specific place in the rules that covers that situation definitively .
think likely a " scorer judgement " seeing the play..

was there a play to be made with ordinary effort on runner advancing from 2nd to third, if in judgment ordinary effort could have gotten runner out, then no hit

FYI the put out goes to the short stop..

MLB
10.09 Putouts
A putout is a statistic credited to a fielder whose action causes the out of a batter-runner or runner, as set forth in this Rule 10.09.
...
(c) The official scorer shall credit automatic putouts as follows (and shall credit no assists on these plays except as specified):
...
6) When a runner is called out for having interfered with a fielder, the official scorer shall credit the putout to the fielder with whom the runner interfered, unless the fielder was in the act of throwing the ball when the interference occurred, in which case the official scorer shall credit the putout to the fielder for whom the throw was intended and shall credit an assist to the fielder whose throw was interfered with;
...

MLB
10.05 Base Hits
A base hit is a statistic credited to a batter when such batter reaches base safely, as set forth in this Rule 10.05.
...
(b) The official scorer shall not credit a base hit when a:
...
(3) pitcher, the catcher or any infielder handles a batted ball and puts out a preceding runner who is attempting to advance one base or to return to his original base, or would have put out such runner with ordinary effort except for a fielding error. The official scorer shall charge the batter with a time at bat but no hit;

[danmcc]

I would grant the batter a hit.

[OhioTex]

I would grant the batter a hit.

softie