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ESO Baseball Rules
Mini Clinic
With
Rick Roder c
November 15, 2007
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2. Presentation includes narration; please turn up your volume.
Welcome!
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Off-season clinics are posted twice per month at ESO “Online Training.”
Questions are submitted by umpires via .
For each mini clinic play you’ll be asked to “make the call.”
Use PAUSE button to read options in any frame.
Rules, sources, mechanics, helpful hints provided.
Rule differences (pro, NFHS, NCAA) will be noted.
Bonus: Monthly quiz posted last day of month.

3. November 15, 2007: Taiwan Championships
R2, R1, no outs, hit and run
Pop up coming down to F3, will be fair, umpires call “infield fly, batter’s out!”
R1 then unintentionally interferes with F3, who drops the fly ball.
R2 goes to third, R1 remains at first
Does IF negate the INT? Does INT negate the IF? Can there be a double play?

4. What’s the call?
IF and INT must both be enforced; 2 outs and R2 goes back to second.
Infield fly only; cannot be interference when the ball does not have to be caught. But ball is dead and R2 returns to second.
Same as “B” except play stands, R2 stays at 3B.
INT takes precedence over IF; ball is dead, R1 is out, BR to first and R2 back to second.

5. IF and INT must both be enforced; 2 outs and R2 goes back to second.
Correct Answer:
IF and INT must both be enforced; 2 outs and R2 goes back to second.
Infield fly only; cannot be interference when the ball does not have to be caught. But ball is dead and R2 returns to second.
Same as “A” except play stands, R2 stays at 3B.
INT takes precedence over IF; ball is dead, R1 is out, BR to first and R2 back to second.

6. Ian’s Follow-up Question:
How can there be a double play when the interference was clearly unintentional?
R2 and R1, slow-running batter hits one-hopper to F6, R2 unintentionally interferes; only R2 is out. Must be intentional for a double play (pro rules).

7. Answer:
In our original play, TWO rules had to be enforced; infield fly AND interference.
In follow-up play, only one rule was involved, a rule that clearly provides for only one out (and two if the interference is intentional).
Note: NFHS and 9.3.2c provide for calling 2 outs in the follow-up play if obvious double play would have occurred.

8. Lessons for today:
A rule may specifically provide that a double play be called.
A rule may also specifically provide that only one out is called, even if it was looking like there would be two.
If two rules must be enforced, you have the likelihood a “double play” simply due to the fact that both must be enforced.

9. Crew Advice
Almost certainly will have crew “get together” on plays like this.
Make certain each individual rule gets its “due”
Intent is vital; make sure all are on the same page regarding whether something was intentional
As always, try to keep your deliberation short
However…get it right!

10. Thank you for participating!
Next ESO Mini Clinic: November 30
Please rule questions to