Interference or obstruction?

I love these ones...

Runners on 1st and 2nd
Ball is hit to right center
Ball is relayed in
Catcher is standing in front of the plate (where she should be)
Ball is thrown high so catcher starts backing up to get it and gets in the base line
Girl running from 2nd runs into the catcher - she does not slide even though she is close enough that she probably should/could have

Umpire calls obstruction on the catcher and both runs score.

In another thread, interference was the call (runner was out) because she has to avoid contact with the girl fielding the ball. Is this different because one was fielding a hit ball and the other was catching a ball being thrown?

 

Another good ? for TBR......

....here by the JavCat. Maybe a "no call" would have been appropriate. As I understand, a fielder can be in front of a base without the ball as long as she, the fielder doesn't impede the advance of a runner. Example, 1b is in hugging the bag as the batter/now runner attempts to turn and go to 2nd. Bam, umps arm goes out to his side. As for your issue at the plate, seems to me that if the ump sees that the runner has a decnt path to the plate then no problem with either side. collision or not. I do find it odd though that the mere attempt of the catcher to track the incoming throw to the plate result in a dead ball call. And if as in this case, the 1st runner was awarded home by the catcher in the way, then I'd argue that at that time, the play is dead and the other runner should go back to third. Of course if I was the 3b coach on offense I'd see it the other way!

 

Its a no call

Catcher was moving to the thrown ball....
which she has a right to do..

Base runner was moving to the plate...
which she has a right to do

 

We Need !!!

We need a video of this...calling all photographers !!!


Guru

 

No call!

No call is the right answer here. Absolutley no way it should have ever been ruled obstruction (as long as it was a close play like it was described). Don't understand why people think that every time there is contact made there should be a call made?

 

Agree... Unless there is a player holding the ball in her way. Which there was not in this case.

Agree... Unless she impedes the progress of the runner while not in possession of the ball. Which it sounds like she did.

I am having a hard time visualizing why both runs score. Unless that's what happened after the collision and the ump allowed that to stand.

In case the OP was actually asking about the difference in the situations... when a fielder is making the initial play on the ball, then the runner has the responsibility to not get in her way. Once the ball passes the initial fielder (okay, thats a simplification, but not much of one) then the onus is on the defense to stay out of the runner's way unless they have the ball.

 

Correct, this was not the case.

Correct, the catcher did not have the ball and was in the base path.

Correct again. After the collision, the first runner got up and touched home. The ball went to the backstop (the catcher didn't catch it because of the collision) and the second runner came in right behind the first runner and touched home. The ump let both runs stand.

It sounds like the ump got it right but does interference not result in a dead ball so the second runner should have gone back to third? Again, this is just for my information. It had nothing to do with the result of the game and I appreciate the responses.

Yes, I was asking that. Thanks for the clarification.

 

To answer your last question....

......if any fielder obstructs the due path of a runner in the base path, the ump holds his arm out to his side, and that runner can proceed to her next base with the caviat of being safe even if she is thrown out. There is no dead ball. If the umps called interference on the runner, then I think the play is dead, runner out, and all other runners go back to their base. In JavCats thread, looks to me like the umps are earning their money making tough calls!

 

Interference does result in an immediate dead ball (both arms go up and he yells "Dead Ball"). However, only the offense can commit interference. This is obstruction (something only the defense can do). Obstruction is a Delayed Dead Ball call (one arm goes out and the umpire may say "obstruction," but usually not very loudly). Delayed Dead Ball means the play continues until the "protected runner" (the one who was obstructed) is "put out" or play finally stops for some other reason. Then the umpire calls "Dead Ball" and awards any bases necessary.

So, in this situation both runs score (ending the play) and the umpire doesn't have to do anything. Should the first runner have been tagged out before reaching the plate, the umpire should have then called "Dead Ball" and awarded home to that runner. The trailing runner would likely have been left at third (depending on where she was when the tag was made).

Earlier I used the term "protected runner." At the time of the obstruction, the umpire is supposed to determine where the runner would have safely reached had the obstruction not occurred. This runner can not be put out between the bases where the obstruction occured, nor as far as the base where she would have reached, and normally she will be awarded that base at the end of the play.