So here it is. I can get the answer but have trouble supporting it.

 

With the bases empty and nobody out, Oswaldo Arcia hits a high, towering pop fly down the left field line off of John Danks. Dayan Viciedo, who terribly misread the ball, runs quickly to the now sinking ball and is about to make a diving catch in fair territory when a Twins fan sitting in the first row throws a shoe at the ball, causing it to change direction on Viciedo. Viciedo somehow stays with it, makes a few adjustment steps, and makes a tumbling over-the-shoulder grab that could be the catch of the year on a usual routine play. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire argues that because of the interference, Arcia should be awarded third base, which he passed right before the ball was caught. White Sox manager Robin Ventura wants Arcia to have second base because the interference occured before Arcia's foot touched third base.

Who is right? Support your answer with an official MLB rule.

I think one poster here is about to be throbbing hard as soon as he opens this thread.....

Edited November 7, 201312 yr by Chilihead90

So here it is. I can get the answer but have trouble supporting it.

 

With the bases empty and nobody out, Oswaldo Arcia hits a high, towering pop fly down the left field line off of John Danks. Dayan Viciedo, who terribly misread the ball, runs quickly to the now sinking ball and is about to make a diving catch in fair territory when a Twins fan sitting in the first row throws a shoe at the ball, causing it to change direction on Viciedo. Viciedo somehow stays with it, makes a few adjustment steps, and makes a tumbling over-the-shoulder grab that could be the catch of the year on a usual routine play. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire argues that because of the interference, Arcia should be awarded third base, which he passed right before the ball was caught. White Sox manager Robin Ventura wants Arcia to have second base because the interference occured before Arcia's foot touched third base.

Who is right? Support your answer with an official MLB rule.

 

The applicable rule here is this portion of 3.15: Batter and runners shall be placed where in the umpires judgment they would have been had the interference not occurred.

 

Now, you say that Viciedo is "about to make a diving catch in fair territory" when the interference occurs. So the umpires can actually justify calling Arcia out if this is their assessment as well. If the umpires decide that Viciedo would not have caught the ball, then it is clear from your description that Arcia would have safely reached third base so that is where he goes. The fact that Arcia is a step or two away from touching third base when the interference occurs is not relevant.

 

So Arcia is either out or awarded third base, based on the umpires' judgment.

 

I got a catch and an ejection of a fan with one shoe.