Question for the Experts

The umpire will(should) award the base the runner would have gotten to if no obstruction had occurred. If she is obstructed between 1st and 2nd but the play goes to 3rd, and it's bang bang, the umpire will (should) award 3rd as the base she would have gotten to (in his judgement). The runner cannot be called out between the bases where the obstruction took place. Most will award the base the runner was trying to reach, but, if in the ump judgement she would not have made it to 2nd, he can and should award her 1st even if she is called out at 2nd. If she continues past the base and then returns without being put out, the obstruction is null and she proceeds at her own risk.

 

......excellent post Jesterbuddy!

I just spoke to an umpire friend and he explained it to me the exact same way as you posted.

Thanks

THIS BOARD ROCKS! ...for sure

Fishman

 

Thanks to both!

Thanks to both Jester and Fishman for clearing this up here at TBR! This is the way I understood and enforced the rule for obstruction (when I umpired baseball), but I was told it was different in softball by umpires that called it exactly like the original question stated. It never made sense to me that the defense could gain an advantage in softball without penalty. Now, who's going to notify the booking agents so they can set their umpires straight?

 

.....I'm wrong alot but never in doubt!
Nice thread NixPal

Fishdad

 

Actually, there are a few exceptions to this where the runner could be called out (e.g. for an act of interference, for failure to tag, etc.), but in general this is a true statement.

 

You are dead on Jeffer. If there is also interference on the obstructed runner, it takes precedence over the obstruction. If the runner fails to tag up (leaves early on a fly out) the defense can appeal that and she would be called out. The situation I was referring to was the original post where the obstruction was the only infraction called. There seemed to be confusion about what the runner should do to take advantage of it. Some think that after obstruction they should just keep running because they can't be called out then when they are, everyone wants to be mad at the ump (I'm a coach or at least that's what the girls call me LOL). Just like we fuss at the umps when they get it wrong, we need to let them know when they get it right.

 

Ump was wrong

#1, the ump was wrong. You award bases based on where she would have ended up if the obstruction had not occured.

The direction in question comes into affect in the award.

If she is going towards 2nd and is obstructed, then the decision is would she had safely made 2nd, 3rd or home if the obstruction had not occured. Or is 1st the only base she would have safely made if the obstruction had not occured and in that case you keep her there.

If you are returning to a base and the obstruction occurs, then the decision is whether or not she would have made it back safely if the obstruction had occured. Like during a pick-up attempt and the runner is returning.

The umpire was CLEARLY wrong! You do not want players playing umpire! A player does not ALWAYS know that obstruction had been called, so how would they know to continue. You can't always hear your coach, so it is up to the player to do what they think is best for the situation. Therefore she did the safe thing and return to the base. Then the umpire should have said, "IMO, the only base she would have reached safely would have been 1st and you have no argument." He was confused on the point of emphasis.

I learned my lesson about 4 years ago. I saw obstruction and the umpire put his arm out and I told my runner to run and she was tagged out and called out. When I asked about the obstruction and the delayed dead ball signal, he said he was pointing to 3rd to tell his partner to get there for the call and was not making the delayed dead ball signal. So even when the coach makes the decision. Play the ball and let the umpires make the calls. Right or wrong it is all you can do.

Ty

Ty

 

....Can somebody find a rulebook? I'm confused which makes me a perfect candidate to ump a game. lol

Fishman

 

NFHS Rule 8-4, Art 3,b

a fielder not in possession of the ball or not making an initial play on a batted ball, impedes the progress of a runner or batter-runner who is legally running bases. Obstructed runners are still required to touch all bases in proper order, or they could be called out on a proper appeal by the defensive team. Should an act of interference occur following any obstruction, enforcement of the interference penalty would have precedence.
Penalty Art3b When any obstruction occurs(including a rundown), the umpire will signal a delayed dead ball. The ball will remain live.

a. If the obstructed runner is put out prior to reaching the base that would have been reached had there not been obstruction, a dead ball is called and the obstructed runner and each runner affected by the obstruction will be awarded the base or bases which would have been reached, in the umpires judgement, had there been no obstruction. An obstructed runner may not be called out between the two bases where she was obstructed.

Exceptions:
1. When an obstructed runner, after the obstruction, safely obtains or returns to the base she would have been awarded, in the umpires judgement, had there been no obstruction and there is a subsequent play on another runner, the obstructed runner is no longer protected between the bases where she was obstructed and may be put out.
2. When properly appealed for missing a base or leaving a base before a fly ball was first touched while advancing. If obstruction occurred while a runner was returning to touch a base, she is protected.
3. When committing an act of interference.
4. When passing another runner.
5. When the batter flies out for the third out.
6. When the batter-runner is obstructed between two bases and she flies out.

b. If the obstructed runner is put out after passing the base she would have reached had there been no obstruction, the obstructed runner will be called out. The ball remains live.

c. When a runner, while advancing or returning to a base, is obstructed by a fielder who neither has the ball nor is attempting to field a batted ball, or a fielder fakes a tag without the ball, the obstructed runner and each other runner affected by the obstruction, will be awarded the base or bases which would have been reached, in the umpires judgement, had there been no obstruction.

I think that's how I remember it being worded. I'm a little older now.

 

....thanks brother!

.....hhhmmmmm, ok, one more time, ....is obstruction between 1B and 2B negated when the batter/runner passes her "safe base", and then checks up full stride going to the next base, turns around and is thrown out at the original "safe base"?

Fishprofessor