Expert: Martin Hoover - 7/6/2010

Question
QUESTION: My situation is this:

We have a player advancing from second to third, after a hit ball was put into play.  The field umpire was crossing the field to get a better view of the play.  While doing so, he runs into the player from second to third, causing him not to be able to advance.  they collide so that Umpire was on top of player but not completely on ground.  A out was made on player trying to advance to third, ending the game and allowing the other team to win.  Could the Umpire been called as an interference, the ball called dead, and the player advance one base?  This play caused our team the chance to advance to the championship game in our All Star 9U tournament.

ANSWER: Debrah,

It would not be considered umpire interference.  The only time an umpire can interfere with a player is when the plate umpire interferes with the catcher making a throw, he gets hit with a batted ball prior to it passing a fielder, or the ball gets lodged in the umpires mask or other uniform item.  All other times we treat the umpire as part of the field.

It sounds to me like this umpire was trying to cut in prior to the runner getting there, but the runner was too fast.

I hope this has helped.

-Martin Hoover

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Martin thank you for your answer.  It was basically the same thing that the umpire told us.  The only thing is I do not see how the call could stand, if the player went out of the baseline to go around the umpire, he would have been called out.  I think the play should have been reset or a dead ball called and player advanced one base.

Answer
Keep in mind that in order for a runner to be called out for running out of the baseline there must be a play upon the runner.  In this situation, there was no play, so the runner could go around the umpire if needed.

Unfortunately there is no "do-over' in baseball, and the rules do not allow for runners to advance in this situation.

-Martin Hoover