Batter plows first base don’t understand

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obbay

Banned
Aug 21, 2008
2,199
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Boston, MA
First of all, if it wasn't intentional, why did the coach excuse it as being "part of the game". Also it was one of those plays that the batter could have stopped on the baseline and bought enough time for the runner to score from 3b.
I've told mine it's not her job to go around a fielder, that if she's in the way it's ok if she makes contact, but no more than necessary and let's not put anybody in the hospital. I
You would be wrong. Every rule set I have seen requires the runner to avoid contact with defensive players. As I have learned on this board, an obstruction call requires two things: 1) defensive player interfering with or blocking the path to the base while not in possession of the ball AND 2) the baserunner is forced to alter their course because of the obstruction.
After I learned that here, I saw it happen last summer. Runner going for home was obstructed but didn't try to get around the catcher and was called out. Our coach who is also an umpire was livid! He didn't know the runner couldn't run straight into the obstruction.
Also, DD was called out for interference in a HS game once, running from 2b-3b when she collided with the SS even though the SS ran into her and had no play on the ball. Actually both of my DDs have done that once. The first time the umpire said " I don't know if she could've got the ball or not, but because of the collision she had no chance."
 
Last edited:
May 4, 2016
200
28
There is nothing unintentional about that contact. Runner lowered the shoulder, in fair territory, and trucked the fielder. I don't know how anyone is seeing anything different.

Ejection for the player was warranted, zero question about it.

Look I have no dog in the fight, but when I look at the video they are less than four feet away heading towards each other. They have very little time to react, sometime things happen not everything is someone's fault.

As far as the coach comments not being him I have no idea what he meant. Maybe he meant accidents are part of the game or maybe he's jerk.
 
Jun 1, 2013
847
18
You would be wrong. Every rule set I have seen requires the runner to avoid contact with defensive players. As I have learned on this board, an obstruction call requires two things: 1) defensive player interfering with or blocking the path to the base while not in possession of the ball AND 2) the baserunner is forced to alter their course because of the obstruction.

That is all dependent on IF the base runner has sufficient time to alter her path. A base runner coming in hard to home, a catcher moves in front as the ball is coming, there is no time to react and the base runner isn't out because of contact. The base runner here started on the inside of the line and moved to the outside before the collision. That should be enough to say she tried to alter her path. If both players had their feet on opposing sides of the line, someone crossed their upper body over the line and that was 1st IMO.
 
Oct 2, 2015
615
18
I've got a 5K resolution 27" screen on my iMac...yup...the parking lot is a good place for the runner :D
 

obbay

Banned
Aug 21, 2008
2,199
0
Boston, MA
.That is all dependent on IF the base runner has sufficient time to alter her path. A base runner coming in hard to home, a catcher moves in front as the ball is coming, there is no time to react and the base runner isn't out because of contact. The base runner here started on the inside of the line and moved to the outside before the collision. That should be enough to say she tried to alter her path.
I'm not an umpire and don't pretend to be a rules expert I just call em like I see em.
Baserunner was running inside the foul line (i.e. Out of the baseline) up until about 1 stride from contact. The fielder had the ball in her glove, so there was no possibility of obstruction. It looked to me like the runner was going for an intensional collision. Her dropped shoulder and elbow flying in the direction of the 1b would support this. Her last minute step to the right was only to save herself from the impact. If she hadn't, they both would've been hurt. She knew exactly what she was doing. It was not consequential, it was malicious contact , out and ejection were the correct calls. Unfortunately, not all umpires have the knowledge or the stones to call these plays correctly.
 

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