The Plays

y Internet debates regarding the lane started when I posted the following play that occurred to me two years ago:

With no runners on, an uncaught third strike deflected off F2 into foul territory toward third base. While the BR ran toward first base the entire distance outside the lane in fair territory, F2 retrieved the ball and made his throw. The throw ultimately struck BR in the back immediately after the instant his foot had touched first base.

My decision in this play was that the runner had beaten the throw to first base, and therefore his running “outside the running lane” did not impact play—no interference. Needless to say, since it was very apparent to the defense that the runner was not in the proper lane, that call was discussed on the field. During the next pitch, still thinking about the previous play, I knew I had made the wrong call.

I received many contradictory posts to my last sentence. They argued that the call made was, indeed, correct. Now, do you agree or disagree with the call?

If the play sounds familiar, it’s because the actions of the runner and the result of the play make it highly similar to the David Justice play that occurred in the 2001 World Series. Justice bunted the ball in fair territory along the first base path and was struck in the back with the throw after he touched first base. In that play, however, plate umpire Dana Demuth wasted no time in calling a lane violation on Justice stating that his actions “at the time of the throw” interfered with the play.

Continued...