Interference or obstruction

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TMD

Feb 18, 2016
433
43
Tough to see exactly (was the ball fair when 1B fielded it?), and would love to hear what our resident umps have to say. If the 1B fielded the ball cleanly before contact, can there be interference? And if 1B was in the act of fielding the ball, can there be obstruction?
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
Batter is out. 1 fielder is allowed the right to field the ball without getting run over, 1st baseperson is the video.
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
So what was the call? Dont really see a call in the video and you dont mention what it was. I see the umpire stick his left arm out, but he did it just as the fielder picked up the ball, I would assume it to be pointing fair and not an obstruction call, but dont know for sure.

F3 was fielding the ball, they have every right to be there and it should not be obstruction. The batter/runner, or any runner for that matter must give the defensive player the opportunity to field the ball unimpeded, and to answer one of the other posts, yes you can have interference after a fielder has already fielded the ball.

After watching it again I see U1 also stick his left arm out so I assume the call was obstruction. Not sure how they come up with that call since F3 has the right to field the ball. Unless they were ruling F3 did something besides just field the ball like throw a hip out into the runner or something.
 
Last edited:
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
Might be the angle and SS playing deep but the 3nd baseperson seems awfully close, looks like every knew she was bunting :)
 
Sep 29, 2014
2,421
113
As an ump when the ball is touched your instinct should have you pointing into fair territory to indicate fair ball or hands up for a foul ball. Does not look like that happened here.

Given the messed that ensued the cowards way out about two seconds after the collision would just be to start yelling "foul ball, foul ball".

but wanting to make sure that you do the right thing the only call I see here has to be interference, the fielder has the right to the ball period the fact she overran the ball and had to backhand it should not matter.

If the umpire was open to a clear and calm one minute discussion about what his ruling was I don't think he could have explained it, even to himself, after he had a chance to think about it. The fielder is not standing there waiting for a throw without the ball or standing there for no reason the fielder is "in the act of fielding the ball" and that is always paramount in these situations.
 
Nov 29, 2016
33
6
Just curious what the runner should have done here. Is there no protection at all for the runner in the running lane? Can she go around on the fair side or should she go further around on the foul side?
 

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