Two outs, runner on 2nd. Ball hit into the hole between SS and 3B. SS makes a great attempt to get the ball, but 3B cuts it off, and throws the runner out at first.
The umpire calls obstruction on the SS, saying they impeded the runner running to 3rd, and rules that the batter-runner is safe.
I had two problems with the call. First, I thought fielders got a chance to make a play. Whether or not they actually do is not always relevant. The ump told me that since the SS did not make the play they needed to get out of the way.
If a batter his a pop fly foul, and say the pitching runs across the first base line trying to make a play, the batter-runner must avoid them, even if they do not make the play, or say the catcher makes the play.
Secondly, the effect of an obstruction call is not "all runners are safe", is it? It's only that all runners advance to the bases they would have advanced to without obstruction.
So in this case the batter-runner is out, and thus the inning is over. If that is correct, my final question would be whether you as an umpire, would call the obstruction and explain that the inning is over, or just let it slide.
The umpire calls obstruction on the SS, saying they impeded the runner running to 3rd, and rules that the batter-runner is safe.
I had two problems with the call. First, I thought fielders got a chance to make a play. Whether or not they actually do is not always relevant. The ump told me that since the SS did not make the play they needed to get out of the way.
If a batter his a pop fly foul, and say the pitching runs across the first base line trying to make a play, the batter-runner must avoid them, even if they do not make the play, or say the catcher makes the play.
Secondly, the effect of an obstruction call is not "all runners are safe", is it? It's only that all runners advance to the bases they would have advanced to without obstruction.
So in this case the batter-runner is out, and thus the inning is over. If that is correct, my final question would be whether you as an umpire, would call the obstruction and explain that the inning is over, or just let it slide.