Interference?

Question
With a runner on second, a ground ball is hit towards the shortstop.  The shortstop charges the ball as the runner on second heads to third.  They collide and the ball goes through.  Should the runner be out or does he have the right to the baseline?  I assumed that this was a clear cut case on interference, but the umpire ruled that the runner did not leave the baseline and that contact was unintentional so play continued and all runners were safe.  This turned out to be a favorable ruling for my team, but since interference does not have to be intentional I thought we benefited from a wrong call.

Answer
Mike,

The runner must attempt to avoid a collision in the case you mentioned above.  You are correct in that the runner should be called out for interference.  If the fielder purposely stands in the baseline, that is obstruction and the runner is awarded the base, but if the fielder is trying to catch the ball and doesn't intentionally trip or harass the runner, then it is up to the runner to avoid hitting the fielder.

In the major league rulebook, this is covered in Section 7.09(j).

Hope this helps!

Brian