UCLA vs LSU Obstruction Call
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- Mar 28, 2016
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Quote Originally Posted by Lobster Birch View Post
I'm not sure of the call, but here's what Jenny Topping, former Washington, Olympic Team and NPF catcher had to say on this play:
This is for all of my catchers... we talk about, and work on plays at the plate all the time! Please show this video to your daughters and ask them if they think it is obstruction on the catcher, and why or why not!!!
This is clearly OBSTRUCTION. Unfortunately if you watch the video as soon as the ball is hit to the outfield the catcher is parked in the running lane. The catcher can not be in the running lane without possession of the ball. What is unfortunate about this play is that the ball clearly beat the runner. The catcher should have stayed in front of the plate, and given the runner clear access to the plate, once she had possession of the ball she had plenty of time to drive into the running lane and make the tag. Unfortunate mistake on the catchers part.
She may be wrong by the exact wording of the rules, but she is correct in how this rule is being interpreted. If the catcher waits for the ball outside of the running lane then it's an easy out. If she stays in the running lane through the whole play and blocks the plate as she catches the ball, then she is going to be called for obstruction 50% of the time.
This doesn't happen at any other base, and I've seen so many runners walk away limping. Either go back to the old rules where the catcher is fair game if she is blocking the plate, or make the threshold for obstruction at home plate minimal. The original purpose of catcher's gear is to protect you from the pitch and foul-tips. It shouldn't be used as a suit of armor to impede runners.
I'm not sure of the call, but here's what Jenny Topping, former Washington, Olympic Team and NPF catcher had to say on this play:
This is for all of my catchers... we talk about, and work on plays at the plate all the time! Please show this video to your daughters and ask them if they think it is obstruction on the catcher, and why or why not!!!
This is clearly OBSTRUCTION. Unfortunately if you watch the video as soon as the ball is hit to the outfield the catcher is parked in the running lane. The catcher can not be in the running lane without possession of the ball. What is unfortunate about this play is that the ball clearly beat the runner. The catcher should have stayed in front of the plate, and given the runner clear access to the plate, once she had possession of the ball she had plenty of time to drive into the running lane and make the tag. Unfortunate mistake on the catchers part.
She may be wrong by the exact wording of the rules, but she is correct in how this rule is being interpreted. If the catcher waits for the ball outside of the running lane then it's an easy out. If she stays in the running lane through the whole play and blocks the plate as she catches the ball, then she is going to be called for obstruction 50% of the time.
This doesn't happen at any other base, and I've seen so many runners walk away limping. Either go back to the old rules where the catcher is fair game if she is blocking the plate, or make the threshold for obstruction at home plate minimal. The original purpose of catcher's gear is to protect you from the pitch and foul-tips. It shouldn't be used as a suit of armor to impede runners.
I actually do not do college ball. College ball is extremely controlled by the coaches including the umpires. If you ant to work games you do not make waves with the coaches or you will not be back to work anymore because you will be black balled. I have no idea what the process is to become a D1 official, I know locally they have yearly tryouts for juco officials that are pretty much invitation only. Other than that I can't tell you much about the review of existing officials.
I think the requirement is the ability to fog up a mirror held in front of their mouths to insure they are still breathing...
Comp, I didn't know that. But, the runner should have at least scored on the caught foul ball.
It wasn't mentioned at all.
It wasn't mentioned at all.
obbay
Banned
It is written that way.
So from this basepath video, at what point does the umpire consider the fielder attempting to make the tag? Is it when 1) she begins to pursue the runner or 2) actually reaches for a tag? There's a huge difference in this play as the first case has the runner's basepath starting right on the line and the second has the basepath starting about 4 feet inside the line.
View attachment 11886
Look at the runner's point of view.
If I saw that waiting for me at home plate, that would cause me to change something! That's impeding whether it's visible to the umpire or not!
Look at the runner's point of view.
If I saw that waiting for me at home plate, that would cause me to change something! That's impeding whether it's visible to the umpire or not!
If the runner never slowed down, reversed course, changed course etc she has not been impeded. By your reasoning the runner could round 3rd, be 60' away and claim the catcher was obstructing them because she was standing in front of the plate. The rule supplement, case plays and clarifications on obstruction all state the runner must be physically impeded in some way in order to have obstruction.
