Define Obstruction/rules

It must be the shoes!

 

Excellent Eye Sight !!!

Better----Good Catch--- No Pun intended !!!!

 

Rulebook: Rule 2

According to the rulebook for High School play in North Carolina

Rule 2-Article 2-Section 36

Obstruction is the act of the defensive team member that hinders or impedes a batter's attempt to make contact with a pitched ball or that impedes the progress of a runner or batter-runner who is legally running bases, unless the fielder is in possession of the ball or is making the initial play on a batted ball. This act may be intentional or unintentional, physical or verbal.

From the pictures, all are obstruction. The rule book clearly states that the fielder must be in possession of the ball. It is illegal to "block a base in any matter without possession of the ball".

 

Okay ---- Then ???

What if the plate is accessible to the runner is this obstruction if the defensive palyer does not have the ball???.....careful before you answer...Guru

 

Reply.....

Not sure what you are asking, defensive player cannot impede or block a base without possession to the ball. The catcher (for example) must set up somewhere that does not obstruct the runners access to the plate. Left foot/Left corner of home plate would not be obstruction.

 

So In Other Words----????

It could be a judgement call ????

 

Answer!

Rule book says the defensive player cannot impede the runner without possession of the ball. This should be an easy call for umpires, unfortunately it is not and lots of times does look like a judgement call. The rule is specific about possession.

 

HEADS OR TAILS

OKAY !!!!

 

told ya'

must have the ball in possession.

 

Most everything is a judgement call...

Most rules are black and white, however they are applied through gray eyes. Every call an umpire makes is based on his judgement of the play, and yes umpires make errors too.

On the plays in question where pictures are provided, the missing variable is timing. There is no picture of contact made between the runner and fielder, nor is their evidence of altered path. The key here would be was contact made (or would there have been, if the runner had taken a direct path) before the fielder receives the ball. If yes, obstruction. If not, no obstruction. The rule is clear, however "the judge" has to make the call, and the "bam - bam" plays can go either way.