obstruction or out

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Sep 21, 2010
83
8
corinth,tx
watching mlb game last night a's vs. angels and an interesting play happened in the 9th inning. no outs 1st batter of the inning right hand batter hit a ground ball off the plate high chopper towards 1st base. the pitcher and 1st baseman both went for the ball . As the runner was about 2 steps from pitcher and 1st baseman the ball came down into pitchers glove the pitcher and 1st baseman were basically side by side in fair territory just inside the foul line. the batter runner sees them and takes one step to his left and collides with the pitcher who has the ball. the first baseman was directly in front of him. what's the ruling?
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
The umpire's judgment was that the presence of F3 forced the runner to alter his base path which caused him to be put out. Meanwhile, the reason he moved in that direction is because he thought F3 was going to field the ball.

By rule, technically, it is a viable and justifiable call. Doesn't mean that every umpire would make the same call or that this umpire will be told to not make it again and an interpretation be offered by MLB.

Personally, I think it was over-officiating as an OBS call is supposed to negate the effect of the impediment. If the OBS had not occurred, IMJ, the runner would have been out and probably would have ruled as such.
 
Aug 29, 2011
2,581
83
NorCal
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I think this should be video of said play. I don't think OBS should have been called but I don't think it was horrible call either.
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
I think this should be video of said play. I don't think OBS should have been called but I don't think it was horrible call either.

The moment the BR turned to the left to avoid F3, it became OBS since F3 did not field the ball. Like I said, I think a no call would have better served the game, but the BU wasn't wrong.
 
Aug 29, 2011
2,581
83
NorCal
This was brought up on another board I visit (by an A's fan) I'm wondering if this has any bearing on the discussion --

Rule 7.09(j), "two or more fielders [can] attempt to field a batted ball."

Other posters comment not mine ---> You can't (shouldn't?) call obstruction when a fielder is in the act of fielding a ball.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
I think no call, especially slow motion you can understand why the runner turned left and why the pitcher got involved in the call. I am not sure there is a right answer.
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
This was brought up on another board I visit (by an A's fan) I'm wondering if this has any bearing on the discussion --



Other posters comment not mine ---> You can't (shouldn't?) call obstruction when a fielder is in the act of fielding a ball.

You can only protect on fielder and that, obviously, was the pitcher since he fielded the ball. That mean F3 cannot affect the play of the offense which in the umpire's judgment, he did.
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
I think no call, especially slow motion you can understand why the runner turned left and why the pitcher got involved in the call. I am not sure there is a right answer.

And if the umpire had the opportunity to watch this in slow motion the call may be different, but then again, the umpires don't have that option.
 
Mar 26, 2013
1,934
0
This was brought up on another board I visit (by an A's fan) I'm wondering if this has any bearing on the discussion --...
I read that yesterday and the author took that part out of context and twisted it to mean something else. As MTR posted, the rules only consider 1 fielder to be in the act of fielding and the umpire decides which one.

He fails to avoid a fielder who is attempting to field a batted ball, or intentionally interferes with a thrown ball,provided that if two or more fielders attempt to field a batted ball, and the runner comes in contact with one or more of them, the umpire shall determine which fielder is entitled to the benefit of this rule, and shall not declare the runner out for coming in contact with a fielder other than the one the umpire determines to be entitled to field such a ball;

That call obviously affected the players on the next play - a bunt up the 1B line where F1 and F3 both went to field it and then both backed off when they saw the other.
 

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