What would you do here?

Question

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NGIZ_xhePo&feature=related

Take a look at that video and give me your opinion as to what you would do in this situation, and was the Umps original call good or suck?

Personally, if that had been me at bat, I would have run that ding-a-ling of a pitcher over. He was clearly in the baseline and blocking the plate.

And before somebody goes off on me for violating the "etiquette" of the field, first off I was a second baseman, not a pitcher, and I always felt that that kind of courtesy did not apply as soon as the ball left my bat.

Secondly, pitchers can be jerk-offs too. Ive played against guys that must have been out for a bean-ball record of some kind, so that doesn't apply either.

And yes ive never played a regular season beyond High School, but I still love the game, still try to play ideally twice or more a week, at least once.

So, for those of us who have ACTUALLY played the game, what would you have done if you were the batter, and did the Ump make a reasonable call?

Answer 1

I can't stand to read answers based on people's opinions, so I will give an answer based on the rules.  A batter-runner is OBLIGATED to allow a fielder to make a play on a ball whether it is in the baseline or not.  The batter runner HAS to yield, go around, avoid contact by any means possible when a fielder is making a play.  If a fielder has the ball in hand, the runner must the out to the fielder.  Plays at the plate allow for some exception to this rule, but usually only if the catcher is involved as they are equipped to take a blow.  The only way a fielder can interfere with a runner is if the fielder is in the runner's established baseline and does not have the ball or is not making a play.  

Answer 2

The pitcher was going after the ball and was not trying to block the hitter.  I believe the hitter did the right thing by trying to avoid contact in this case.

Answer 3

I think the umpires call was correct because the pitcher had to go into the baseline  to get the ball. But, if I was the batter than i would have just bulldozed the pitcher over.If the pitcher is in the baseline than the runner is allowed to run them over. The umps original cal was correct because the batter could have just bowled the pitcher over so he couldnt get the ball in time.

Answer 4

interfierence on da pitcher