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Red Sox Fans Struggling with Baseball Rules
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Two nights in a row we had goofy plays with Boston Red Sox catcher Carlos Narvaez. Monday night, the Phils walked it off on a 10th inning catcher’s interference, then on Tuesday night Bryce Harper scored on an attempt to steal home:
If you go into the MLB box score, this play is ruled a balk. Harper scores, Nick Castellanos to third, and THEN Brandon Marsh is awarded first base on catcher’s interference.
Obviously a lot of hubbub about this sequence on social media, Red Sox fans specifically wondering what the catcher is supposed to do. They did a lot of whining and complaining. The catcher has to actually stay behind the plate and receive the pitch, as written in the rulebook. Here’s the most simple explanation, from Reddit user dawgdays78:
The pitcher didn’t step off, so it was a pitch. The catcher stepped in front of part of the plate, invoking rule 6.01(g). Catchers interference and a balk, batter and all runners advance one base.
6.01(g) “If, with a runner on third base and trying to score by means of a squeeze play or a steal, the catcher or any other fielder steps on, or in front of home base without possession of the ball, or touches the batter or his bat, the pitcher shall be charged with a balk, the batter shall be awarded first base on the interference and the ball is dead.”
Right, so since Dick Fitts didn’t step off, it’s treated like he’s throwing a normal pitch, and Narvaez has to wait to receive it. Instead, he positions himself in front of home, which triggers 6.01g, “interference with squeeze play or steal of home.” The ump got it totally right, actually a bang-up job on his part because this doesn’t happy very often and he was on top of it.
Admittedly, the whole thing does seem kind of silly, considering the fact that Marsh vacated and didn’t swing, but this is how it’s written in the rulebook.
Meantime, go Phils. Anything that annoys Red Sox fans and Boston at large is a good thing.
Kevin has been writing about Philadelphia sports since 2009. He spent seven years in the CBS 3 sports department and started with the Union during the team's 2010 inaugural season. He went to the academic powerhouses of Boyertown High School and West Virginia University. email - k.kinkead@sportradar.com