Runner's Lane Interference - A Mechanics Review

HP Umpire Nathan Hall did not hesitate to call runner's lane interference after deeming that a batter veered out of the running lane on a play to first base, a definitive decision from the very beginning that features in our Play Breakdown, sponsored by Umpire Placement Course (umpcourse.com), gateway to job placement across several professional leagues, including the Northwoods League, where this play took place.

With two out and two on (R1, R2) in the top of the 8th inning of the Wausau Woodchucks vs Traverse City Pit Splitters, a ground ball back to the pitcher's mound turned into an eventful few seconds for HP Umpire Hall as he first cleared the catcher to signal the batted ball fair before setting up along the foul line between home plate and first base.

Having observed that the Woodchucks batter-runner appeared to run inside (to the left of) the runner's lane (sidebar: both "inside" and "outside" the lane are illegal; within the lane is legal), Hall called "Time" to indicate runner's lane interference, ruling that the runner's illegal positioning constituted interference when the Pit Splitters pitcher's throw to first base hit the runner's helmet before bouncing into right field.

Hall then discusses the play with Wausau's manager before the game resumes.

Video as follows:

MLB Hires 10 Call-Up Umpires to Full-Time Staff

After a consolidated-era 10 major league umpires retired following the 2022 season, MLB has hired 10 call-ups to fill the vacancies. The new full-time umpires on Major League Baseball's staff range in age from 31 (Brennan Miller) to 40 (Nick Mahrley) and bring a combined 2,608 games of MLB experience during their service as MiLB call-up umpires. 

The most experienced new-hires (Shane Livensparger and Mahrley) began their minor league careers in 2009 while Edwin Moscoso began working in professional baseball most recently (2014). Livensparger and Mahrley tie for the most games of MLB experience at their 2023 hiring (382 games apiece) while Malachi Moore has the least games worked at the major league level (156).

In the table below, we have summarized these data, along with stats and ranks for replay overturn rate and plate scores (listed below the table). For both the Replay Rank and Plate Rank columns, the highest attainable rank is one, the lowest 24, and are compared to the field of all 2022 call-up umpires for whom we have data.

Name	Age	First Year of MiLB	MLB Experience	Replay Overturn Rate	Replay Rank	Plate Score	Plate Rank
Bacchus, Erich	32	2012	234	12.3	14	93.5	19
Beck, Adam	34	2013	253	18.1	5	94.4	4
Ceja, Nestor	35	2012	253	11.5	16	93.7	15
Livensparger, Shane	38	2009	382	9.3	21	94.3	7
Mahrley, Nick	40	2009	382	10.6	19	93.6	17
Miller, Brennan	31	2013	195	16.3	6	93.5	18
Moore, Malachi	32	2012	156	11.1	17	92.1	24
Moscoso, Edwin	33	2014	333	15.1	9	94.6	2
Tosi, Alex	34	2011	187	9.1	22	94.5	3
Valentine, Junior	35	2011	233	13.1	13	94.3	6

Plate Score Accuracy Rank, 2022 MiLB Call-Ups [Compiled Data is Career-Based]

1. Ballou, Brock: 94.8;

2. Moscoso, Edwin: 94.6;

3. Tosi, Alex: 94.5;

4. Beck, Adam: 94.4 [94.39];

5. Riggs, Jeremy: 94.4 [94.35];

6. Valentine, Junior: 94.3 [94.33];

7. Livensparger, Shane: 94.3 [94.31];

8. MacKay, Alex: 94.2;

9. Williams, Lew: 94.2;

10. Wills, Ryan: 94.1;

11. Merzel, Dan: 94.0;

12. Bacon, John: 93.8;

13. Vondrak, Clint: 93.7 [93.74];

14. Tomlinson, Nate: 93.7 [93.66];

15. Ceja, Nestor: 93.7 [93.65];

16. Ramos, Charlie: 93.6 [93.64];

17. Mahrley, Nick: 93.6 [93.55];

18. Miller, Brennan: 93.5 [93.53];

19. Bacchus, Erich: 93.5 [93.52];

20. Clemons, Paul: 93.4;

21. Arrieta, David: 93.2;

22. Rosenberg, Randy: 93.1;

23. Navas, Jose: 92.9;

24. Moore, Malachi: 92.1.

Video as follows: