Umpire Odds & Ends: Instances of Interference

As one of our UEFL commenters noted, "it's rare you see interference at the major league level... and tonight it was called three times!" Let's review:

1) Vanover (WSH@NYM): With three on and none out in the bottom of the 8th inning of the Nationals-Mets game, Mets batter Josh Thole hit a 0-0 fastball from Nationals pitcher Doug Slaten back up the middle. Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond attempted to field the ball on the third base side of the second base bag, where Mets baserunner Ike Davis was taking his secondary lead. Contact did not appear to have occurred (it doesn't have to), and Davis was ruled out for interference by 2B Umpire Larry Vanover. The Mets ultimately won the contest, 8-4.

Video: http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=13634861

2) Davidson (TOR@LAA): With two on and two out in the top of the 13th inning of the Blue Jays-Angels game, Blue Jays batter Edwin Encarnacion hit a 0-1 slider from Angels pitcher Jason Bulger to the area between third base and shortstop. Angels third baseman Alberto Callaspo attempted to field the ball, where Blue Jays baserunner Yunel Escobar was running. Contact did not appear to have occured, and Escobar was ruled out for interference by 3B Umpire Bob Davidson. The Angels ultimately won the contest, 6-5, in 14 innings.

Video: http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=13640527

3) Hickox (LAD@SD): With three on and two out in the bottom of the 9th inning of the Dodgers-Padres game, Padres batter Cameron Maybin hit a 2-1 fastball from Dodgers pitcher Jonathan Broxton softly on the ground to the area between third base and shortstop. Dodgers third baseman Casey Blake charged the grounder and collided with Padres baserunner Chase Hedley, who was ruled out for interference by 3B Umpire Ed Hickox to end the game, which the Dodgers won, 4-0. Hickox also served as HP Umpire during the first game of the Dodgers-Padres quasi-double header. Good call?

Video: http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=13640259

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Relevant Rule: 7.09(j): A batter is out for interference when... he fails to avoid a fielder who is attempting to field a batted ball...

Related Article: Umpire Odds & Ends: Interference Ends Game (09/05/2010)
- Tidbit: Alfonso Marquez, who was featured in this related Umpire Odds & Ends, was also involved in the current version. Alfonso was the 2B Umpire for the current contest, which also ended with an interference call at third base.