Define Obstruction/rules

Runner on 3rd, pitcher wings one to the plate that gets by the catcher. Yep, here comes our girl from 3rd. Ball comes back to the catcher quickly so the runner checks up and gets caught in a run down. We all know the routine of running the baserunner back to her base, throw, then fall in line by following your throw. Well here comes the pitcher, falls in line behind the catcher, so happens baserunner must of had enough by then and gave her best shot at scoring at the plate. Out by a mile. Ump rules that the pitcher was obstructing the base. Runner safe. Somebody help me with this safety rule and how it is applied please

 

Obstruction is when a fielder is in the way or bumping the runner on their way to the base/plate not making a play on the ball. If they are making a play on the ball it is not obstruction. If the pitcher was just in line and not making a play on the ball then that's the right call. If the pitcher was in line and making a play on the ball then that's the wrong call. Making a play on the ball for the most part is a judgement call.

 

ha

I thought you had to be in possession of the ball before you could block the baseline.
Please define "making a play on the ball".

 

If you are about to receive the ball. For example, Ball hit in outfield theres a runner at 2nd. Runner rounds 3rd, throw comes in as long as it's in a reasonable distance that the catcher can make a catch and tag when the runner arrives at home then she's allowed to block the plate. But if the ball is just coming in when the runner goes to cross and the catcher is blocking the plate that is obstruction. Like I said it's a judgement call.

 

help me out on this one

Good call M. Now I grew up watching catchers block the plate too. I'm fine with that skill. It appears to me that this "judgement call" needs to reflect what is either right or wrong in obstructing a base. Not a runner, a base. All I'm looking for is what components in a play make up an umps mind. Is it how one ump might view things and then another in an equal type situation ruling differently? To me thats the definition of judgement calls. I still don't have the facts with which umps are basing their judgements.

 

What if the obstruction is by the umpire...

Ponder this...

Tight game, runner on two and a texas league single is hit to left field. Runner on two stutter steps, pauses and then takes off for third. Left fielder throws ball to the third baseman where somehow the home plate umpire ends up in the baseline. The runner slows down, brushes the umpire and skirts around him to get to the bag. She clearly would have been safe, but because of the obstruction, the runner slides in around him and the third baseman drops the ball then picks it up and tags her while she is on the bag. Hard to tell if tag was down before she was on bag, but regardless the umpire calls her out. Thirdbase coach pleads with umpire as to him causing obstruction to the bag, but we all know an umpire will not call obstruction on himself....what do you guys think?

I know the ump is suppose to be a part of the field, but when they are clearly not in the right position and cause an out of this magnitude which changes an inning, then what? Thoughts?

 

I can go ahead and tell you...a good umpire that knows what he's doing, will NEVER be in a base line in that situation. but if that ever would happen...the ump is apart of the field and the runner has to go around him and then he'll hear everyone jump down his throat and he'll just have to bite the bullet

 

Obstruction is a delayed dead ball call. If the obstruction doesn't affect the outcome of the play then it means nothing.

An umpire CAN call obstruction on himself. But its doubtful they ever will.

 

Obstruction

We were always taught in a run down, as the runner, when the odds were against us making it to any base safe, to be on the look out for someone in the baseline and promote slight contact. If the defensive player is in the baseline, you will get the call every time. Even if they are slightly out of the baseline, you will often get the call and the odds of the umpire interpretation are perhaps greater than beating the defensive team on a rundown.

We were also taught to drop to the ground in a ball before getting tagged. It is amazing how many defensive players will trip over you as they lunge for a tag and not tag you out.

 

I'm not sure if the college definition of obstruction is the same as high school, but this is what the umpires guideline is for obstruction according to the NCAA.

Obstruction is a delayed dead ball call that occurs when the defensive player causes the offensive player to alter their original path to the base in any way. If the defensive player does not have possession of the ball, they cannot be in the path of the runner UNLESS in the umpire's judgement the ball is closer to the defensive player than the runner is. If, in the umpire's judgement, the ball is closer to the defensive player than the runner is, the defensive player is in the act of receiving the ball and therefore has a right to block the path of the runner. In most cases, if the ball, fielder and runner arrive at the same time, obstruction is not called.

INTERFERENCE is an immediate dead ball and occurs when the offensive player interferes with the defensive player's attempt to field the ball. With interference, generally contact must be made to be called. If the defensive player stops and waits for the ball, then interference is not called. For interference, it must be a BATTED ball that has not gone past the infielders. If an infielder still has a play on a ball, even if it is tipped or misdirected somehow by another defensive player, then interference can be called.

A defensive player making a play on a THROWN ball does not have the same rights as a defensive player making a play on a BATTED ball. Once a batted ball has gone past the infielders, the responsibility falls on the defensive player to get out of the way of the runner. If an infielder still has a play on the ball that would result in an out without interference from the runner, the responsibility falls on the runner to get out of the way of the fielder.

One of the most controversial plays occurs when the throw takes the defensive player away from the base/plate they are covering and into the path of the runner. Since it is a THROWN ball, the responsibility is on the defensive player. If a defensive player runs into the path of the runner and the ball is not closer to the defensive player than the runner is, and contact occurs, it is obstruction.