Baseball rules--runner interfering w/fielder attempting to tag

Question
Hi Brian--

Great to find you out here!

I'm a Red Sox fan, and shortly after the infamous "A-Rod" hack in the 3rd game of the '04 ALCS, got into a debate with a friend about the call. He claimed that the umpire had made a bad call--that it was perfectly legal for Rodriguez to knock the ball out of Arroyo's hand as he tried to tag him out heading to first. He argued that it was no different than a runner plowing into a catcher while trying to reach home plate. I know that in the latter case the rule that's being applied is that a defensive player can't block a base, and that therefore the runner can run into him in an attempt to knock the ball loose and, if successful, is granted the base. But Arroyo wasn't blocking a base and I can't find an affirmative rule that say a player from can't knock a ball from a defensive player's hand if he's not protecting the basepath. It stands to reason of course (as I said to my friend at the time, "gee, why can't a runner just coldcock anybody who's trying to tag him out...? It could be like rollerball"), but I can't pinpoint it in the rules.

This has been bugging me since then. Can you tell me which rule was applied to declare A-Rod out on that occasion?

Thanks in advance--you'll help me sleep better!

Best,

Adam

Answer
Adam,

Sorry about the delay in answering your question, but I wanted to make sure I researched the rulebook properly.

The rule in place is 7.09 in the major league rulebook.  There are lots of words in this section, but what A-Rod did is clearly defined as interference within this section of the book.  The penalty for interference is that the runner is out and the ball is dead.

By the way, the catcher rule actually is the same.  The runner should not plow into the catcher in an attempt to dislodge the ball.  This is interference.  If the catcher is blocking the plate without the ball, the catcher should be cited for obstruction and the runner should be awarded the plate.  This is one of the least enforced rules in baseball - in fact, never enforced in the major leagues.

Hope this helps!

Brian