Another "you make the call"

I saw this happen twice today and I believe the umpires misinterpreted the rules in both cases. I will give you one scenario because they both were about the same.

Run down (pickle) between 3rd and home...obstruction was signaled during the run down...runner was heading back to third. Play continues and they eventually tag the runner out at home after about 3 more throws. The umpire calls the runner out and says because the play continues after the obstruction signal then the final outcome stands...she is out.

I believe this is wrong. My interpretation of the rule is that once obstruction is signaled the runner cannot be called out between the two bases she was in. If the obstruction was when she was heading back to third she should have at least been awarded third after the play was over if she was put out Now some would say she should get the next base (home) and this may be correct, but I believe she, at the very least, should be awarded third on the delayed ball ruling.

Not sure if this one has been discussed recently...please help me out.

 

Obstruction is a delayed dead ball situation that cannot hurt the batter/runner. If the obstruction occurred as the runner was trying to go home, she is awarded home. If she was trying to return to 3rd when the obstruction occurred, she is awarded 3rd. You cannot assume an extra bag so if she was going into 3rd, she could not have been awarded home. Also, you can ONLY be awarded a base if you try and go. If you round 2nd and are obstructed by the SS standing on the bag but make no attempt to go to 3rd, you can't be awarded 3rd. Simply rounding the bag does not equal an attempt.

At NO time, however, is the batter/runner out! The umpires totally blew these calls. It blows my mind how uninformed some umpires are in this business.

 

Thanks Coach,

I read it just like you do. It states that once obstruction is signaled the runner cannot be put out between the bases she was in. I have asked a couple of people who are knowledgeable of the game and they thought the umps were correct...even after they read the rule. I guess they believe a run down is an exception to the rule.

 

My Opinion

Once an obstruction is called the runner is awarded the base they were attempting to go to. If she were retreating toward third as the obstruction occurred and then attempted to go home she is only allowed the one time chance to retreat, after that the obstruction is no longer in effect and runner is subject to be put out.

 

ASA and NFHS, the obstructed runner is protected to the base she would have reached had there been no obstruction. In this case 3rd base would be the protected base. If the runner had touched third base after the obstruction the protection is lifted, and if she tries for an advance base she does so at risk of being tagged out. If she did not touch third then when she was tagged out the umpire should have put her back on third base.

In NFHS baseball if a runner is obstructed its a delayed dead ball and they are awarded the advance base wether they tried to advance or not.

In MLB or OBR a runner obstructed in a rundown the ball is immediately dead and the runner is awarded the advance base. Any other type of obstruction is a delayed dead ball and requires the runner to attempt to advance in order to be awarded that base.

Hope this helps.

 

To make sure that I am clear, if a runner is obstructed while heading back to a base and then turns and heads towards the next base to avoid being immediately tagged out, but is subsequently tagged out, they are out? If that is the case, then there doesn't seem to be any real penalty for obstructing a runner.

 

I realized I left out that if the runner in the rundown touches the base she was protected and then tries to advance she is at her own risk. If you re read my post you will see that I added that exception.

In your sit the runner is not at risk if she did not touch the protected base.

 

So you are saying the correct call was made? Sounds like runner was heading toward 3rd when obstructed the post said 3 more throws and she was called out apparently heading home. Has always been my thought that after signal for obstruction you get that base but if trying to advance after obstruction you are at risk.

 

Another question you said if she had not touched 3rd then tagged out he should have put her back on third? What if she had crossed home and not tagged out after she retreated from the obstruction. That is like saying she can score but you can not get an out?

 

In the original play the umpires made the wrong ruling if the runner did not touch third base after the obstruction. After the runner was tagged out she should have been returned to third base.

If a runner in a rundown is retreating when the obstruction occurs, and she does not touch the base she was retreating toward then she may not be called out between those bases.