Question for the Experts

Runner rounds 1st collides with the 1st baseman who is obviously in the baseline. Runner fights through the contact stops halfway to 2nd and returns to 1st as the throw comes to 2nd. The umpire calls interference......and awards her......1st. He says if she had attempted 2nd and been tagged, she would have been granted 2nd by virtue of the obstruction. However, since she went back to 1st, that is the base that is given.

Now we were the defensive team in this situation.....but I almost argued on behalf of the runner.

What's the verdict of the TBR panel of experts?

 

I've seen that same ruling several times. I think it's the right call.

 

The base runner - batter is awarded first base. Obstruction occurred prior to safe arrival at 1st base. Had batter been tagged out, she would have been awarded 1st base on the obstruction call.

 

base awarded is a judgment call.

 

The answer is just what the ump called.
If the kid turns to go back to first then thats the base that she awarded safe or not. If she continues on to 2nd and is thrown out, she's awarded 2nd. Now if she runs into the 1st baseman, ump signals interference, obstruction, whatever the call is, and the runner goes 2nd turns that base to 3rd then all free base stuff is off. If she's thrown out coming back to 2nd she's out. If she's out at 3rd, she's out.
Been there.

Fishman

 

Fish knowledge

The Fish has done his homework as usual! He is the King Fish of softball!

 

I also agree with the Fish. The umpire decides where he thinks the runner would get to without the OBSTRUCTION (not interference) at the point of the obstruction. Then, if the girl is tagged out, he can award her that base. However, if the girl just stops at 1B, she doesn't get a free pass to 2B. She needs to know the rules and that she was obstructed and try for what she could have gotten. The risk she runs is that the umpire didn't see the obstruction and will just call her out.

 

"Delayed Dead Ball" Classic example of the reason for this type of dead ball.

 

question

If the answer is that the runner can only be awarded second (for obstruction that occurs between first and second base) and ONLY then if she attempts to continue to second and is tagged out before she reaches second, why not just teach your first and second baseman to tackle any runner who chalks one down the right field line to the fence? Please don't misunderstand what I am saying. I have seen the umpire enforce this rule under a delayed dead ball on several occasions exactly as described. However, I believe that when a runner is obstructed, the runner should awarded a MINIMUM of the next base, but can be awarded additional bases based upon the umpire's judgement. This would prevent the defense from taking advantage of the rules and gaining an unfair advantage.

 

.....pardon me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure ONLY the next base is "protected" for the runner. The key is to teach your kids to know to look at the ump, the second there is contact on the basepath and see if the umps hand goes up, indicating he saw it. Then bust on down to the next base without fear of being out.
Fish