follow up question

Question
I had asked Tom about an interference play and failed to mention something; so here it goes again.  Also correcting the outs;  1 out bases loaded, ball is hit to the 2nd base side of the shorts stop, third baseman luges left as if he can make the play (no way possible unless he were superman) falls down in front of the base runner advancing to 3rd, knocks the base runner down, mean while the short stop fields the ball makes a force play at 2nd and then turns and throughs to the pitcher covering 3rd and tags out the runner who was knocked to the ground.  Umpire said the runner was out because the 3rd baseman made a move toward the baseball to try to make a play, so there for no interference.  This can not be right.

Answer
Hi Jonathan,

In order to have "interference" the defensive player must have a reasonable opportunity to make a play.

If there were no reasonable opportunity to make a play I would have obstruction and protect R2 between the bases.

It seems to me there would have to be a call of either interference on R2 or obstruction on F5.  It's difficult w/out seeing the play but we have a collision between a fielder and and runner and normally we have to call something.  Right away, not an explanation later.

Mark