Clear path For Base Runners

[radness]

Wonderful Umpires
Please clarify runners must have clear path to the bases and plate.
Use of the word obstruction?

Example
Play at the plate.
Throw is up 3rd base line a few feet.
Catcher would need to cross foul line to get the throw. But would put the catchers body between runner and plate.
Can the catcher go to the BALL or not?

Example
Coach plays first base behind the base line from 1st to 2nd.
With a runner on 1st.
Runner takes lead off.
1st base comes in from behind the runner to try and get to the back pick throw from catcher
Runner has turned back to base but 1st body is in between them and base,
ball is just arriving.
Explain ball not in glove.
Explain ball in glove.
( would there be a difference?)

Thanks for clarifications!

(How this rule has changed over the years
Is the big factor in trying to illiminate collisions)

 

[marriard]

Wonderful Umpires
Please clarify runners must have clear path to the bases and plate.
Use of the word obstruction?

'clear path' is a simplified explanation, but this never appears in the rule book. People use it because that is where the most obstruction is called. But just because a runner has a clear path does not mean that obstruction cannot be called.

In USSSA for example, the words used are 'hinders the runner'

"Obstruction is the act of a defensive team member which hinders a runner or changes the pattern of play or when a catcher or fielder hinders a batter unless the fielder is in possession of the ball or making an initial play on a batted ball. "

That is very different from 'clear path' - and you can see in your second example where that might come into play, because a fielder can set up where ever they want if there is no action.

Play at the plate.
Throw is up 3rd base line a few feet.
Catcher would need to cross foul line to get the throw. But would put the catchers body between runner and plate.
Can the catcher go to the BALL or not?

This depends...
I mean you CAN always go for the ball - whether this causes an obstruction call or not is a different matter. If the act of going to get the ball (note: not crossing the foul line - that has nothing to fo with it) causes the runner to be hindered (i.e. obstructed as above) then the umpire can call obstruction. That includes the runner changing their path/avoid/slow down/ hesitate and so on.

Yes, this can be totally a judgment call from the umpire, but if the runner is halfway down the line and you have time to go get a bad throw, go get it. Also once they have caught the ball, there is no obstruction call to be made.

This is almost always a "You have to be there to see it" to make a call.

Coach plays first base behind the base line from 1st to 2nd.
With a runner on 1st.
Runner takes lead off.
1st base comes in from behind the runner to try and get to the back pick throw from catcher
Runner has turned back to base but 1st body is in between them and base,
ball is just arriving.
Explain ball not in glove.
Explain ball in glove.
( would there be a difference?)

So much the same as above.

• First once the ball is in the glove, if the obstruction has not already happened, there is no longer a call to make. They are entitled to make a play.
• There has to be actual obstruction still, so just the player being between 1B and the lead runner is not a call.
• If the runner is leading and makes no effort to return to 1B there is no call. The call will be made is the runner makes the move back to 1B and the 1B is in the way, the runner is 'hindered' and DOES NOT YET have the ball.

 

[Comp]

Clear path is something that has filtered down out of NCAA and their screwing around with all the rules. They have made a complete mess out of the obstruction rule.

A defensive player can be anywhere they like, including between a runner and the base the runner is trying to get to. What they cannot do, is hinder or impede the runner without possession of the ball. The runner must actually be impeded in some way by the defensive player without the ball in order for there to be obstruction.

 

[The Man In Blue]

"Obstruction is the act of a defensive team member which hinders a runner or changes the pattern of play or when a catcher or fielder hinders a batter unless the fielder is in possession of the ball or making an initial play on a batted ball. "

Just wanted to highlight one piece or @marriard 's good answer ...

BATTED BALL

Fielders are not protected from causing obstruction when going for a thrown ball.

 

[Quigs10]

One thing I do wish was changed about the obstruction call is that the runner should be awarded the next base even if they did not attempt to get to next base "completely".

What do I mean? Example: happens a lot in 12u and younger levels.

Girl on 1st base, ball is hit to OF and runner gets to second and as she gets there the SS or 2B is standing there right on top of base watching OF chase ball. Happens 2-3 x a game in younger groups. So, umpire puts fist out for obstruction call..3B coach may or may not see it...(usually looking at runner at 2B..or 3B coach may think obstruction happened but umpire may not)..so 3B coach signals or tells runner at 2B to come to 3B..but because she's basically been stopped or slowed down a lot gets "scared" and starts to go to 3rd or not at all and turns back to 2B and stays there fearing she may be thrown out.

Umpire then states well IF she would have gone to 3rd I would have called her safe anyways. But now shes stuck at 2B.

To make it consistent..the runner should automatically get the next base if there is any hindering of advancement of runner. It shouldn't matter if she starts and stops and goes back if she's unsure.

But this would only happen once the play has stopped. If the runner does go to 3rd and then even tries home, then once she clears 3rd then its advance at own peril again as usual.

My modification is only for when the runner does not go to next base and ball has been returned to pitcher and play has stopped

 

[The Man In Blue]

Girl on 1st base, ball is hit to OF and runner gets to second and as she gets there the SS or 2B is standing there right on top of base watching OF chase ball. Happens 2-3 x a game in younger groups. So, umpire puts fist out for obstruction call..3B coach may or may not see it...(usually looking at runner at 2B..or 3B coach may think obstruction happened but umpire may not)..so 3B coach signals or tells runner at 2B to come to 3B..but because she's basically been stopped or slowed down a lot gets "scared" and starts to go to 3rd or not at all and turns back to 2B and stays there fearing she may be thrown out.

Umpire then states well IF she would have gone to 3rd I would have called her safe anyways. But now shes stuck at 2B.

Then, going strictly by the way you described it, that umpire did not apply the rule correctly.

If he believed she would have made it to third absent the obstruction, he should put her on third.

I don’t like automatic base awards. Baseball (some orgs) have automatic base awards. If obstruction happens as a runner goes back to first on a pick-off, he is awarded second. IMO, that is illogical.

 

[Comp]

The obstruction rule is not a punitive rule which is what it would be if it were an automatic base advance. The rule is simply there to correct whatever the defense may have cost the offense. And as was stated above, the award is suppose to be the base the runner would have been judged to reach if they had not been obstructed. There is absolutely no requirement in the rule stating they must attempt to advance after being obstructed.