So you don't believe the runner was impeded at all even in rounding the base? The fielder was someplace they shouldn't have been and most certainly did impede the runner in going around the base. It was obstruction and it's real simple, if you don't believe they would have been safe at home, put them back at third
Another obstruction, what's your call?
- Thread starter RADcatcher
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- May 29, 2015
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In all reality, in real time in the moment . . . I stick by my original assessment and the popular opinion that it was obstruction (though I am apt to put her back on third).
With the luxury of having nothing on the line and watching the video multiple times, no, I don't think it was. I don't believe she was headed home when the contact occurred. I believe that the decision to head home came after it happened and thus it did not impede her on that play.
With the luxury of having nothing on the line and watching the video multiple times, no, I don't think it was. I don't believe she was headed home when the contact occurred. I believe that the decision to head home came after it happened and thus it did not impede her on that play.
What part of the obstruction rule says the runner must be headed home in this situation to be obstructed? Was she not very obviously hindered when she came around the base? That is obstruction and must be called. And once obstruction is called with very few exceptions the runner cannot be put out between the two bases where obstructed. A smart runner knowing obstruction has been called should attempt to advance their position, they have nothing to lose in doing so.
You are really complicating this. You are reading the runners mind on when she made her decision to go home? Really? Would the 3rd base coach putting up the stop sign or waving her home play a role in your decision making?
It's simply obstruction. And with the play that close at home you have to award her home, too, imo.
And if she would have hit the corner of the bag with her foot she could have really truck her. It's a really bad play by the infielder. Period.
- May 13, 2023
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add... IF she was slowing down coming to Third potentially it was that visual of seeing a defender in the way.
imo... absolutely there is a reason to believe the runner would want to score rounding third! Particularly because the ball was far enough away that it was a close play at the plate that one stride could have made a difference.
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- May 29, 2015
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I disagree, @RADcatcher , that "absolutely there is a reason to believe the runner would want to score rounding third!"
"Round it and take a look" is a very common teaching/strategy.
Yes, I am overcomplicating it, I know I am. While we do not want to get into the business of reading minds, I want to challenge umpires to be more aware of the details and reading the body language. As I said, I highly doubt I would have anything less than an obstruction in real time. However, we need to be keying on what is happening. Yes, the coach has the stop sign up. We aren't judging the coach's intent, but it certainly is evidence to consider. The runner, IMO and ON VIDEO (again, probably not seeing this in real time), does NOT appear to be rounding third to head home. Her eyes and head are in the wrong place. Her momentum is not going the right direction. She is rounding to take a look, which may entail heading home after that, or it may not. Yes, we probably aren't going to see this in real time, but I am challenging umpires to begin to train ourselves to be observant of the little things.
As for the "close play" at the plate, it wasn't that close.
"Round it and take a look" is a very common teaching/strategy.
Yes, I am overcomplicating it, I know I am. While we do not want to get into the business of reading minds, I want to challenge umpires to be more aware of the details and reading the body language. As I said, I highly doubt I would have anything less than an obstruction in real time. However, we need to be keying on what is happening. Yes, the coach has the stop sign up. We aren't judging the coach's intent, but it certainly is evidence to consider. The runner, IMO and ON VIDEO (again, probably not seeing this in real time), does NOT appear to be rounding third to head home. Her eyes and head are in the wrong place. Her momentum is not going the right direction. She is rounding to take a look, which may entail heading home after that, or it may not. Yes, we probably aren't going to see this in real time, but I am challenging umpires to begin to train ourselves to be observant of the little things.
As for the "close play" at the plate, it wasn't that close.
- Jan 22, 2011
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What I was told at the USA umpire school last weekend was you can’t put the runner back on 3rd, you have to call her out or safe at home. If the obstruction occurred at 2nd, if in my judgement she would have been safe at home without the obstruction at 2nd I can call her safe. If in my judgement she would have been out at home without the obstruction at 2nd, I have to call her out.
The runner in the video was obstructed rounding third, not 2nd. If the obstruction happened at 2nd, yes they are correct. The runner cannot be returned to third as they had run past the 2 bases where obstructed if the umpire judged they would not have reached home absent the obstruction.
Learn something new everyday.
This is definitely obstruction and will be called as such by any umpire who has even a remote understanding of the rule. Occurring at 3B protects this runner between 3B & HP. In this case the obstruction was signaled by U3 and the "out" call by the plate umpire would have been reversed.
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