When Is It Obstruction ??

I heard yesterday that a lot of umpires are calling " OBSTRUCTION " when the ball is coming home for a play,and the catcher sets up to take the catch and tag the girl out in front of the plate !! What's your Call ??



------------ guru

 

We had one also.....

We had a play last week against Bessemer City. Runner on 1st takes off to steal. Second baseman runs into baseline forcing a collision between fielder and runner. Runner continues to 2nd only to be tagged out by the SS on the throw down. Field ump says he never saw the collision, but runner is out. There was not a ball in play to the 2nd baseman or even swung at. Just a straight steal.

Also, I have noticed a lot of players this year standing on the bags even if there is not a play or throw to their bag. Is this being taught to slow down runners? Or coaches just not having enough time to teach everything? I've seen some bad crashes early in the season.

 

the first time they eat some metal cleats the base blocking will stop

 

You Got A Point There !!!

Yep !!!!


-------- Cleat Reaction !!!

 

When Is it obstruction

Yesterday in the GWU/USC game the 2nd baseman went behind the runner at first for the pickoff. The ump called her for obstruction and said that the runner is entitled to all 4 corners of the base.

 

Obsruction?Interference?

According to what they were saying at the officials clinic, and the way it's worded in the Federation Rule Book, the fielder "must have the ball in their possession" prior to blocking the base/plate. They can no longer set up between the runner and the base to receive the ball. Supposedly if they impede the runner in any way, it is obstruction. As far as a fielder standing on the bag, I would think if she got bounced into the outfield and then obstruction called, most coaches would find time to remember to teach proper footwork around the bag. I have another question for you though. How do you feel about the " a step and a reach" rule pertaining to runners interfering with fielders? If a runner is going behind the SS to avoid interference, the ball bounces thru the SS and lands behind her, if there is a collission, and in the umpires judgement the SS was within a step and a reach of the ball, the runner is out. I had one where that happened and although there wasn't a collission, my runner took another step behind and when the SS picked up the ball, my runner was called out for leaving the baseline.

 

Man That Is-----

This is a great OPEN for discussion question !!!

---- GURU

 

LDFRDGUY

What was the Plate Ump doing? As an Umpire, I can see the Base Ump maybe turning with the throw and not seeing the obstruction, but, the Plate Ump has the whole thing right in front of him. I hope he didn't say 'It's not my call.'

 

OOPS

My previous post should have been to crazecoach. Sorry for the misdirection

 

The base ump said he didn't see it. OK, that's fine. The plate ump was asked for an appeal of a better angle.....his words were, " I was not looking that way".....WOW! That was THE ONLY play going on. He even forgot to call ball or strike. It was early in the season, cold, rainy, etc.....I'm sure we all make mistakes. I will not bash an official on a public forum.