Quote:
Originally posted by andViolins
This is from the official rules of MLB:
7.09
. . . It is interference by a batter or a runner when: (g) If, in the judgment of the umpire, a base runner willfully and deliberately interferes with a batted ball or a fielder in the act of fielding a batted ball with the obvious intent to break up a double play, the ball is dead. The umpire shall call the runner out for interference and also call out the batter runner because of the action of his teammate. In no event may bases be run or runs scored because of such action by a runner.
http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/of...s/runner_7.jsp
I assume thats why Jeter was sent back to first.
aV
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I still think the rule is stupid. There is no punishment if there are no runners on base and someone interferes -- yet, you don't see batters constantly doing their best to interfere, do you? If Jeter had not been on base and Arod pulled the same crap, should we start Sheff off with a strike? Come on.
I guess they have it that way to try to take some of the subjectivity away from the umps. It makes no sense to have Jeter go back to first when he was probably standing on second when it happened, but I can understand having him go back if Varitek fields the ball and Arod kicks him. Then, one can objectively say that Jeter might have been out had Arod not interfered. Hell, it would be in Arod's best interests to do so to avoid being doubled up, since the rule (technically) says Jeter just goes back to first if he does. But you never see that happen either.
TM
