For some reason "Obstruction" is now the call to make locally

For whatever reason, local umpires have been told to enforce obstruction more and more this season.

This is proving good and bad...

Good in that we are getting more (correct) calls where there is NO contact but there is obstruction (especially with players setting up on bases or intentionally being in the base line without the ball and the runner having to hesitate or change speeds/running path). This is very good. A+

Bad in that it is not well applied in some cases..


OK...

Scenario #1... runner on 2nd... steals on the pitch.. SS runs to catch the throwdown and gets to basically the inside of the 3rd base bag slightly before the runner with the ball still in the air (basically SS has run in a straight line from their position to where the catcher has thrown the ball on the inside of 3rd base). SS catches the ball and sweep tags the runner sliding in... Obstruction because the fielder was in front of the base while the ball was in the air? Apparently.

Scenario #2... runner on 3rd... high flyball hit to LF, runner tags on the catch. Catcher sets up in front of the plate. Ball is now in the air as the runner comes down the line - catcher has to move across into foul ground so she can catch the ball but obviously has to move across the plate to do so... makes catch and tags runner. Safe by obstruction because they 'blocked the plate when they moved across without the ball"? Apparently.

In both cases, if the fielder had not moved to the ball, they would not have been able to make the catch nor had they 'setup' in a way where there wasn't access to the bag (not full access I will admit but there was bag for the runner to go to). I struggle with these because I am NOT going to tell my fielder to not catch the ball and the umpires in question (different umpires for both scenarios) didn't have a good answer for me when I asked what my fielder SHOULD have done to avoid the call that was made.

Thoughts?

Did the fielders impede the runners in either scenario before they had the ball? If so it is obs.

Being in the base line (or running path) without the ball is not OBS unless the progress of the runner is actually impeded.

EDIT: Play at home similar to the description of OP's second scenario...


Thrown ball pulls C into path of the runner, but C made the catch prior to runner's progress being impeded. No OBS.

Both of your plays may or may not have been obstruction. Without being there to see them in person I have no idea. As stated above, simply being in the basepath without the ball is not necessarily obstruction, the runner must actually be impeded in some way, change course, hesitate, slow down, forced to slide early etc. No, the umpire cannot tell you what your fielder should do, but it is their responsibility to not impeded the runner if they are not in possession of the ball. A defensive players has no rights to a ball unless they are fielding a batted ball.

marriard said:

For whatever reason, local umpires have been told to enforce obstruction more and more this season.

This is proving good and bad...

Good in that we are getting more (correct) calls where there is NO contact but there is obstruction (especially with players setting up on bases or intentionally being in the base line without the ball and the runner having to hesitate or change speeds/running path). This is very good. A+

Bad in that it is not well applied in some cases..


OK...

Scenario #1... runner on 2nd... steals on the pitch.. SS runs to catch the throwdown and gets to basically the inside of the 3rd base bag slightly before the runner with the ball still in the air (basically SS has run in a straight line from their position to where the catcher has thrown the ball on the inside of 3rd base). SS catches the ball and sweep tags the runner sliding in... Obstruction because the fielder was in front of the base while the ball was in the air? Apparently.

Click to expand...

Maybe, maybe not. Depends on whether the runner was impeded prior to reaching the base.

Scenario #2... runner on 3rd... high flyball hit to LF, runner tags on the catch. Catcher sets up in front of the plate. Ball is now in the air as the runner comes down the line - catcher has to move across into foul ground so she can catch the ball but obviously has to move across the plate to do so... makes catch and tags runner. Safe by obstruction because they 'blocked the plate when they moved across without the ball"? Apparently.

Click to expand...

Same answer as above

In both cases, if the fielder had not moved to the ball, they would not have been able to make the catch nor had they 'setup' in a way where there wasn't access to the bag (not full access I will admit but there was bag for the runner to go to). I struggle with these because I am NOT going to tell my fielder to not catch the ball and the umpires in question (different umpires for both scenarios) didn't have a good answer for me when I asked what my fielder SHOULD have done to avoid the call that was made.

Click to expand...

Suggest your fielders be more accurate with their throws. The defense has not "right" to a ball not batted (except for a throw to 1B to retired the BR, but that is another discussion). Sure, they can more to a position to receive the ball, but they risk being called for OBS.

It should be noted that there is no rule forbidding the defense from blocking a base, or standing anywhere in particular to prepare to receive or receive a throw. The rule, however, does forbid them from impeding or hindering the runner without possession of the ball or in the act of fielding a batted ball.

Now, if you have umpires calling obstruction simply because the defender is crossing or standing in the runner’s path, you have umpires that are either poorly trained, receiving a bad interpretation or getting their direction by someone who doesn’t know the rules and proper application

I'd love to see more obstruction calls where our team plays. It is, in my opinion, terribly under-called to the point that I believe that some coaches actually teach their fielders to go directly to the inside corner of the base whenever a ball is hit that is not at them (ball-base-back up to the extreme). I've also had umps tell me that contact is necessary for the call, which is obviously not the case. As my DD gets older, the situation has improved both on the part of the fielders and umpires however.

MTR said:

Now, if you have umpires calling obstruction simply because the defender is crossing or standing in the runner’s path, you have umpires that are either poorly trained, receiving a bad interpretation or getting their direction by someone who doesn’t know the rules and proper application

Click to expand...

I think this is the problem - they have been told to enforce it more but have not received any additional training or information on what they are being asked to call.

Appreciate all the responses. Always good to add to my knowledge of the rules and how they are interpreted/called.

Idk

DD goes flying, supergirl

Another player is a rock, good luck to you.