Is this obstruction?

[Beeg]

Runner on third standing between 3rd and home. Catcher has the ball after the pitch. 3rd baseman puts her gloved hand right in front of runner's eyes, with glove open toward catcher but blocking runner's view. 3rd baseman did that until our runner went back to 3rd. Is this obstruction?

This happened every time our runner is on 3rd base trying to run home. Our girls are very good in reading the situation, but this 3rd baseman kept putting her gloved hand right in our runner's view. I never saw this before, so I'm wondering if this was an automatic obstruction.

 

[quincy]

I would ask the umpire to make them stop it, would not expect them to call anything until she was warned.

Not sure pentalty if she continued, I would toss her for unsportsmanlike conduct.

 

[Eric F]

Obstruction does not occur until the moment the runner's progress is impeded by a fielder not in possession of the ball. The play described does not meet the requirements for obstruction.

 

[quincy]

It violates the spirit of the game.

 

[radness]

Hmm how close is glove to face of runner?
Not certain if this is an umpire intervention moment either?

My player response...
If really close as a runner may have taken an extra aggresive step while pumping arms in my sprint accidently abruptly moving her arm.
( while there is usually still a way for the runner to see by moving lower, higher to the side)
I would think the aboved described actions would then grab the attention of the umpire.
Or atleast the 3rd baseman!

But would the umpire have anything to say otherwise?
Hmmm?

 

[texasheat]

If really close as a runner may have taken an extra aggresive step while pumping arms in my sprint accidently abruptly moving her arm.

Hmmm?

purely accidental blue!

 

[Strike2]

Lol...what age group is this?

Contact isn't necessary to impede a runner. If it's not obstruction, it seems very close. If the runner moving toward Home was hit in the face by the 3B's empty glove, that should certainly be enough. At a minimum, that bush-league move should draw a "WTF are you doing" question from the umpire along with a warning to stop it.

It always amuses me when girls do stuff to each other that would quickly bring two guys to blows.

 

[Eric F]

Lol...what age group is this?

Contact isn't necessary to impede a runner. If it's not obstruction, it seems very close. If the runner moving toward Home was hit in the face by the 3B's empty glove, that should certainly be enough. At a minimum, that bush-league move should draw a "WTF are you doing" question from the umpire along with a warning to stop it.

It always amuses me when girls do stuff to each other that would quickly bring two guys to blows.

Correct that contact isn't necessary, but obstruction doesn't occur until the runner's progress is actually impeded. This could include the runner having to change path due to the presence of a fielder in the running lane. That said, a fielder in the running lane isn't automatically obstruction.

Based on the description by the OP, R1 was between 3B and home, and F2 had the ball. It didn't sound like R1 was in the process of trying to advance, but was waiting and watching. F5 holding up her glove in the line of sight of R1 does not meet the requirements to be obstruction.

I agree 100% that it's a pretty chicken-$#!+ move. With girls, I expect there to be some very loud mockery from R1's bench.

 

[quincy]

I think you are missing the point a little bit, it was not one runner it was all of them.

 

[jackfrost]

Try it. As soon as I see the runner have to move her head to see around the glove, that is impeding. Obstruction would be easy call.