September 29th, 2022 at 2:00 pm 
by Jayann Kellogg During Tuesday’s night game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park in San Diego, Game-1 of the three-game series, the Dodgers had a rather unique and rocky start. Padres Cy Young Award-winning All-Star left-hander Blake Snell was dealing while on the bump.
But the Seattle native was an easy puzzle for 29-year-old Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts to figure out. Betts led off the game with a sharp line drive single to 31-year-old Padres left fielder Wil Myers.
The next batter, 29-year-old Dodgers All-Star shortstop Trea Turner, struck out swinging for the first out of the inning. Dodgers three-time Silver Slugger Freddie Freeman followed with a pop out in foul territory to Padres third baseman Manny Machado for the second out of the inning.
But during the Freeman at-bat, the speedy Betts, (very) successfully stole second base.
…and then he didn’t.
Generally, when a player on first base successful steals second, they are confident that the call will stand.
Not in this case.
As it turned out, when 32-year-old Padres catcher Austin Nola pulled his arm back to throw to Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth in hopes of catching the speedy Betts sliding into second, he bumped the mask of 34-year-old Lakeland, FL native home plate umpire Sean Barber, who immediately ordered Betts back to first base due to “umpire interference.”
Immediately following the call, many fans, both Dodgers and Padres, were confused. It is not a very common call, but it is a very real thing.
Per Major League Baseball Rule 5.09: “The ball becomes dead and runners advance one base, or return to their bases, without liability to be put out, when:
(b) The plate umpire interferes with the catcher’s throw; runners may not advance. NOTE: The interference shall be disregarded if the catcher’s throw retires the runner.”
Nola’s throw did not retire Betts.
Who knew?
(MLB.com)
Most home plate umpires will crouch approximately 12 inches behind the catcher so that their chin is no lower than the catcher’s head and their feet shoulder-width apart and parallel with the catcher’s shoulders. This allows the umpire to see the plate and read the ball as the pitcher delivers the pitch from the mound. Hovering too close not only can set a home plate umpire up to get hurt by being hit in the face but can also set up a rare yet real interference call.
The Dodgers ended up losing the game by a score of 4-3.
With the Dodgers bats being quiet lately, the interference call ruined what potentially could have been a big inning for them.
Oh well.
Whoever thinks that baseball is boring, boy are you wrong.
Play Ball!
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