Baseball rules corner: when runner is hit by batted ball, Rule 7.09 comes into play

Baseball Digest, Oct, 2004 by Rich Marazzi

WHENEVER A BATTED BALL strikes a runner, the general perception is that the ball is "dead" immediately and the runner is ruled out. But such is not always true.

Let's dissect rule 7.09 (m) and apply it to some different situations. The rule reads: "It is interference by a batter or runner when a fair ball touches him on fair territory before touching a fielder. If a fair ball goes through, or by an infielder, and touches a runner immediately back of him, or touches the runner after having been deflected by a fielder, the umpires shall not declare the runner out for being touched by a batted ball.

In making such decision the umpire must be convinced that the ball passed through, or by, the fielder, and that no other infielder had the chance to make a play on the ball.

The Yankees-Mets game provided some fireworks concerning this rule on July 4 at Shea Stadium where the Mets were about to sweep their cross-town rivals.

The Yankees had Jorge Posada on first base and one out in the top of the eighth and the score tied 5-5 when Miguel Cairo hit a grounder that went underneath diving first baseman Mike Piazza. The ball struck Posada in the leg and he was called out. First base umpire Eric Cooper said that because Mets' second baseman Ty Wigginton was close enough to have made a play, Posada touching the ball constituted interference.

If Cooper didn't think that Wigginton had a chance to make a play, the ball would have been kept alive and Posada would have not been called out.

Yankee manager Joe Torre wasn't sure (if Wigginton could have made the play) and announced that he was going to play the game under protest. After reviewing the play on tape, he was sure that Wigginton could not have made a play.

Several Yankee players concurred including general manager Brian Cashman. Alex Rodriguez said, "If Wigginton did get to the ball, he wouldn't have been able to throw out Cairo because Wigginton was playing toward the middle of the infield." Yankees' first base coach Roy White, who was closest to the play, was also in agreement. The only dissenter was Yankees' third base coach Luis Sojo who stated, "I think he would have made the play. When I saw Wigginton, he was behind Mike (Piazza)."

Whatever, following the game, crew chief Mike Reilly, with rulebook in hand, supported Cooper. At that point the Yankees' protest had no legs since it was the judgment of the umpires that Wigginton could have made a play. And you cannot protest an umpire's judgment, only the misinterpretation of a rule. Two days later the protest was denied by MLB.

Although it's seldom that a runner is protected by 7.09 (m), it did happen on April 13, 1998, at Los Angeles where the Dodgers hosted the Astros.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Todd Zeile was batting with Raul Mondesi on first. Zeile hit a grounder on a hit-and-run play that struck Mondesi between first and second. But Mondesi wasn't called out because first baseman Jeff Bagwell was playing in and second baseman Craig Biggio had no play. Zeile was credited with a single.

As mentioned, it's rare that a runner is not called out when hit by a batted ball. One umpire commented in response to rule 7.09 (m), "It's easier to sell the call when you call the runner out." But that's not what the rulebook says.

In baseball protocol, the defense always has the right of way when fielding a ground ball. It is the responsibility of the runner to avoid the fielder. But if the fielder touches or deflects the ball and the ball should strike a runner, the runner is immune from being put out. This is a protection granted to the runner in 7.09 (m).

Cardinals' manager Solly Hemus was on top of this rule in an exhibition game with the Tigers in 1959.

In the bottom of the first inning with two out, the Cardinals had the bases loaded with Gino Cimoli on third, Stan Musial on second, and Joe Cunningham on first when Hal Smith stroked a grounder to third which bounced off Eddie Yost and into the running path of Musial. "Stan the Man" then kicked the ball and was called out by umpire Bill McKinley. Hemus argued that there was no interference because the ball already had touched an infielder. Solly won the argument and the play was ruled a run-scoring single.

Smith could probably give a clinic regarding rule 7.09 (m). In a game played between the Cardinals and Pirates on July 28, 1957, Smith hit a ball in the bottom of the first that went by Pittsburgh third baseman Gene Baker and struck Ken Boyer who was running to third.

Many thought that Boyer should have been safe because the ball hit him after it skipped past Baker. Not so. Umpire Vinnie Smith stated that, in his opinion, Pirates' shortstop Dick Groat was behind Boyer and could have made a play. Therefore, Boyer was called out a la Posada.

A classic example of a runner being protected when struck by a batted ball occurs when the infielder is in on the grass. Obviously no infielder would have a chance to make a play on any hard shot that gets by another fielder. If a runner is hit in this situation, the ball remains live and in play. Can you imagine the reaction of the crowd, especially if the call goes against the home team!