Obstruction

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May 7, 2013
31
0
Texas
Runner on 1. Two outs. Line drive to right field. Runner from 1 rounds two and comes to a complete halt trying to avoid ss near the bag. The ball is still in RF. runner rounds 3 and is tagged out at home. Batter arrives safely at 3. Time is called and coach asks for an obstruction call when rounding 2. Umpire says there was obstruction but, once runner advances past next base she is no longer protected by the obstruction call. I think if she wasn't obstructed she would have been safe at home. Was this the correct call?


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Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
Obstruction is not necessarily cancelled once the runner reaches the next base. It is the umpires judgement, but the runner can be protected as far as the umpire judges they would have reached absent the obstruction. Not only that, there is no requirement for the runner to actually attempt to advance to be awarded the base or bases. Say in the situation you posted the lead runner had actually collided with the SS and instead of attempting to advance just returned to 2nd. If the umpire judged the runner would have safely reached home absent the obstruction, when playing action is over the runner and all other runners affected by the obstruction are to be awarded the base or bases they would have reached.

This is umpire judgement. If the umpire judged the runner would not have safely reached home, once the runner passed 3rd they are liable to be put out. But, the blanket statement of the runner not being protected once they pass the next base is not accurate.
 
Mar 2, 2013
444
0
Far too many umpires do not protect runners far enough. Err on the side of awarding too much, rather than too little. Who's at fault here? Does the defense that is violating the rule stop violating it if they can keep benefit from violating it? Each second of the delay is at least 10 feet lost for most runners. Keep that in perspective. "Coach, if you don't like the base awards on obstruction, I highly recommend teaching your players not to violate the rules. That's your solution."
 
May 30, 2011
143
0
When the runner rounded 2B and stopped due the the OBS by F6 was it clear at that point that she was going to reach home without the OBS? Or are you basing it on what happened after the OBS? The umpire making the OBS call has to decide at the time of OBS where to protect the runner.
 

Greenmonsters

Wannabe Duck Boat Owner
Feb 21, 2009
6,168
38
New England
When the runner rounded 2B and stopped due the the OBS by F6 was it clear at that point that she was going to reach home without the OBS? Or are you basing it on what happened after the OBS? The umpire making the OBS call has to decide at the time of OBS where to protect the runner.

Let's say a runner gets obstructed and actually knocked down between 1st and 2nd and then gets thrown out at the plate on a very close play after the ball rolls under the OF's glove all the way to the fence. Using your logic, at the time of obstruction, you'd only protect the runner to 2B and maybe 3rd without regard to the fact that the ball subsequently got by the OFer and the runner easily would've scored without the obstruction???
 
May 30, 2011
143
0
Let's say a runner gets obstructed and actually knocked down between 1st and 2nd and then gets thrown out at the plate on a very close play after the ball rolls under the OF's glove all the way to the fence. Using your logic, at the time of obstruction, you'd only protect the runner to 2B and maybe 3rd without regard to the fact that the ball subsequently got by the OFer and the runner easily would've scored without the obstruction???

Yes! Absolutely correct. Advancing beyond 3B (let's just say for argument sake that at the time of OBS the umpire decided to protect to 3B) the runners advance to home is not because of the OBS, but something that happened AFTER the OBS it this case the fielding error. Certainly the runner may try to advance but it's not a free pass to home.

Let's take a variant on your play. Same thing but instead of OF misplacing the ball, she fields it and throws to 3B to attempt to retire the runner who was obstructed between 1st snd 2nd. Again let's assume the umpire judged that the runner should be protected to 3B. But the throw is wide and runner continues home. A defender wisely backed up the errant throw and fires home to retire runner by a step.

The action that happens AFTER the OBS does not add to the award. In both cases (error fielding batted ball in outfield or errant throw to 3B) subsequent play beyond the appropriate protected base led to a putout, and the out should stand.
 
Last edited:

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
Far too many umpires do not protect runners far enough. Err on the side of awarding too much, rather than too little. Who's at fault here? Does the defense that is violating the rule stop violating it if they can keep benefit from violating it? Each second of the delay is at least 10 feet lost for most runners. Keep that in perspective. "Coach, if you don't like the base awards on obstruction, I highly recommend teaching your players not to violate the rules. That's your solution."

10 feet per second would be 6 seconds between bases. Most girls do it in half that, so 20 feet per second is probably more accurate.
 
Mar 2, 2013
444
0
10 feet per second would be 6 seconds between bases. Most girls do it in half that, so 20 feet per second is probably more accurate.

I fully agree. I err on the side of caution when using these numbers because people have a hard enough time wrapping their heads around them. A fast runner can make 1st base in about 3.5 seconds.

I think people (umpires included) need to keep this in perspective.
 
Mar 2, 2013
444
0
When the runner rounded 2B and stopped due the the OBS by F6 was it clear at that point that she was going to reach home without the OBS? Or are you basing it on what happened after the OBS? The umpire making the OBS call has to decide at the time of OBS where to protect the runner.

This is where too many umpires screw up obstruction. Even if umpires are not willing to permit post-obstruction evidence to make the determination regarding base awards, they nevertheless fail to remember something that is extremely important. Obstruction isn't a split second occurrence. The runner remains obstructed until she is no longer impeded by the defender's illegal action. She's impeded until she's free, unimpeded and back up to speed. Don't just look at where the impediment began, but note where it ends.
 

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