I Kinda Think This Might Have Gone Differently in Philly

Ryan Howard had a tough night at the plate, and perhaps he made the haters' shouts for Ryan-as-DH a little louder with some muffs in the field. But he did make some solid plays at 1B too, including the one captured in this great photo by Getty man Doug Pensinger.

Now, if this were Carlos Pena leaning into the stands at CBP, what are the chances the fans let him make the grab? The MLB rule on fan interference, after the jump.

3.16
When there is spectator interference with any thrown
or batted ball, the ball shall be dead at the moment of interference
and the umpire shall impose such penalties as in his opinion will
nullify the act of interference.
APPROVED RULING: If spectator interference clearly prevents a fielder
from catching a fly ball, the umpire shall declare the batter out.
Rule 3.16 Comment: There is a difference between a ball which has
been thrown or batted into the stands, touching a spectator thereby
being out of play even though it rebounds onto the field and a
spectator going onto the field or reaching over,
under or through a barrier and touching a ball in play or touching or
otherwise interfering with a player. In the latter case it is clearly
intentional and shall be dealt with as intentional interference as in
Rule 3.15. Batter and runners shall be
placed where in the umpire’s judgment they would have been had the
interference not occurred.
No interference shall be allowed when a fielder reaches over a fence,
railing, rope or into a stand to catch a ball. He does so at his own
risk. However, should a spectator reach out on the playing field side
of such fence, railing or rope, and
plainly prevent the fielder from catching the ball, then the batsman
should be called out for the spectator’s interference.
Example: Runner on third base, one out and a batter hits a fly ball
deep to the outfield (fair or foul). Spectator clearly interferes with
the outfielder attempting to catch the fly ball. Umpire calls the
batter out for spectator interference. Ball is dead at the time of the
call. Umpire decides that because of the distance the ball was hit, the
runner on third base would have scored after the catch if the fielder
had caught the ball which was interfered with, therefore, the runner is
permitted to score. This might not be the case if such fly ball was
interfered with a short distance from home plate.

You're in the first or second row, the ball is coming toward you, as is the opposing team's 1B and his glove. With your much-heralded respect for the letter of the law... What would you do?