Parameters for obstruction call

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May 13, 2012
599
18
This is had to see it senerio so a definitive ruling is out, I'm just asking for the things an ump takes into consideration for a judgement call. Offense takes off on ground ball. Defense infield catches her to far off bag. She tries to return to bag. Throw is coming. Collides with defense at bag right as ball arrives but collision prevents her from reaching the bag. Defense catches throw and tags her short of bag. FU fist out obstruction runner safe. From my view point, runner had partial path to bag and could have made it bag with little or no contact defense did not have ball but was right there 3ft or less to her glove. Plate ump after play just has the look of if appealed would overturn. It was bang bang play. On these type of plays what does the umpires look for to make the call. HSchool
 
Sep 29, 2014
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Well as I was so gently reminded not too long ago first things first; the plate umpire does not overrule a field umpire making a call at a base that is the field umpires responsibility. If the field umpire is questioned or unsure he can choose to talk to the plate umpire (there is no "appealing" to an umpire who is not responsible for the call) umpires have responsibilities for certain calls and other umpires don't overrule them.

Others that are umpiring now are more in tune but when I was an umpire I always looked at what was the natural course of play. Once the defense has fielded the ball they no longer have the first right to make a play on the ball they have already done that; now they must allow the runners to run unless they have the ball then they can block the runner from the base. For me if the defender does not have the ball and the runner is going to a base (assuming fairly straight path) and the defender is blocking the runner I would call obstruction. The only gray area is if there is a clear path to the base, not a sliver if they run around a little, and the runner chooses to slightly alter their path to intentionally make contact with the defender as they are receiving the throw that could be interference.

Again I know you were not looking for the technical answer which is always "had to be there".
 
May 13, 2012
599
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Dj you sound correct and your sliver comment is close. Was more than a sliver but yet still partially blocked (opinion on that). I belive you and them got it right. I was just looking at how umps apply the gray area. In this senerio the plate ump has a better view of the base path than field ump calling OBS. In this case but assuming the runner had the entire base path that the field ump has poor angle to view. Why does the plate ump have to wait for help request when they have better view for that portion of the call. Is that just protocol?
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
The rule isnt nearly as difficult as everyone tries to make it. A defensive player not in possession of the ball, or fielding a batted ball may not impede the progress of a runner. In your situation, until the defensive player physically has the ball in their possession, the runner for all intense and purposes owns the entire base. The defense cannot block any portion of it from access by the runner. I even hear umpires making the statement, well she gave her the back edge of the bag. By blocking any portion of the base without the ball, the defense is dictating where the runner must go, and that is obstruction if the defense does not have the ball.

As for fielding a batted ball, only 1 fielder is provided protection from being called for obstruction. If 2 fielders are going for a ball, say a ball hit in the f5/f6 gap, the umpire must judge which fielder has the best opportunity to field the ball and they are the only fielder protected. If the other fielder impedes the runner, they would be guilty of obstruction.
 
Mar 26, 2013
1,934
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The rule isnt nearly as difficult as everyone tries to make it. A defensive player not in possession of the ball, or fielding a batted ball may not impede the progress of a runner. In your situation, until the defensive player physically has the ball in their possession, the runner for all intense and purposes owns the entire base. The defense cannot block any portion of it from access by the runner. I even hear umpires making the statement, well she gave her the back edge of the bag. By blocking any portion of the base without the ball, the defense is dictating where the runner must go, and that is obstruction if the defense does not have the ball.
To clarify, blocking by itself does not constitute OBS - whether they impeded the runner is the critical element.
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
As for your question about umpires, each umpire has specific responsibilities on every play. The base umpire is responsible for the bases in most cases, the plate umpire obviously batters, strikes, balls, fly balls, some plays at 3rd etc. Why must the plate umpire have to wait? Because the rules say no umpire may seek to overturn another umpires call unless asked by the calling umpire for additional information. The call always belongs to the calling umpire, no other umpire may ever overturn anothers call. If the calling umpire does ask for additional information from another umpire, they may choose to change their call or keep it. It is totally their choice and judgement. And as has been said in previous posts, if you are going to request an umpire confer with their partner have a specific question, pulled foot, bobbled ball etc. Simply asking them to get help because the other umpire had a different angle or you didnt like the call is not a legitimate reason.
 
Mar 13, 2010
960
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Columbus, Ohio
I read the first post and was going to reply, but then saw Comp's posts. No point in typing the same thing all over again!

What's he's already posted is "by the book", exactly the way umpires should be handling this.
 
Nov 8, 2014
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Per Comp - " By blocking any portion of the base without the ball, the defense is dictating where the runner must go, and that is obstruction if the defense does not have the ball."

Clear, concise and definitive. Thank you. Question..3B is straddling the bag awaiting the throw from the OF...it arrives late, as runner slides in. No harm no foul, no impeding, no contact. What if runner opted to run thru the play and make the turn to home....and trips or hits on the straddling baseman's right knee running heading to home ....that's a free trip home, isn't it?
 

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