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This reminds me of the long clip NCAA put out this season with a similar play at the plate. I was more confused after watching that clip. Now, I'm just as confused. Seven minutes of review to sort this out, and I'm supposed to make a decision after one look live in a Juco or D3 game.

Guys ... I just stumbled on this post and want to chime in to clarify. I was the one who designed and build UmpireBible.com, owned and maintained it for almost ten years, and then sold it just over two years ago. The purchasers had bit plans for the site (so they told me), but not a thing has changed since then. My last act was to update the rules to the '24 book, but then signed off. It doesn't appear that anyone is babysitting the site, let alone making the effort to keep the rules updated. That's a shame, but I have no control, obviously, nor influence. I still believe it's one of the best online umpire training resources out there. It's unfortunate, though, that they've evidently gone full ghost on the site, and that consequently the rules are falling ever so slightly out of sync. BTW, I've retired from umpiring (and everything else, for that matter :)) and I've dropped my membership here at the Empire, so I hope this message comes through. Nick G. (nickg@live.com)

The NCAA has told us repeatedly that avoidable contact above the waist is MC.

He had an obvious step but it was more towards HP than 1B, not seen by me until easily seen from the 3B camera view and U3. No crossed leg which would not be a balk anyway unless any part of the foot attached to that leg went behind the back edge of the rubber.

I think we're going to have to agree to disagree. This is not a free foot going partially to 1B. It's a full step with distance and direction to 1B, and with R1, he has to follow that step with a throw. I'm balking this for a feint to 1B. Fortunately, I doubt I'll ever see it.

Yep. An illegal slide. Whether the catcher has the ball is moot. This really should have easily been called on the field. I'm guessing that 15-30 seconds was getting the call, the other was making sure the explanation regarding the catcher's position and what was illegal about the contact was the rest.

I think I might have seen a tag.

https://www.patreon.com/c/user/posts?u=112779508

Quite obviously base path markers . . . 😋

It doesn't happen often, at least when I post an opinion first, but @Replacematt and I are in lockstep on this one. This seemed pretty textbook. I am not seeing a) why this was not the initial call, and b) what took so long on the review. The throw did not pull the catcher there. The runner did not begin his slide appropriately (in time) and took to "a crash position" to make contact. I am confused by just one thing in the media advisory from @Velho . . . they say this would have been ruled obstruction, however the crew chief came back after the review and said there was no obstruction. Just a misspeak? Or is that the proper parlance? To me, it would be "There was obstruction on the play, however, by rule, the malicious contact supersedes the obstruction. The runner is called out by rule and ejected." Then again, I am a big advocate of making it known that we saw it, and here is why we didn't call it (e.g, calling out on a tag out with obstruction, not a safe call). Re: the right hand/obstruction mechanic . . . in real time it looked as if it was just part of his movement as he jumped out of the way. In slow-mo, it looks more like the start of that mechanic, but I don't think it was. I don't believe NCAA uses that, but I'll defer to those who are there.

I’ll take “clueless broadcasters” for 100 Alex

Run it by Randy Bruns. I think he would agree with you based on his literal interp of some of the pitching rules, such as a stutter step to turn sideways being a step toward HP in the delivery. Let me know when he gets back to you on this and that other question about coach assist☺️

I do not. I usually carry the MSU manual in the deepest, darkest — and I do mean D-A-R-K — recesses of my mind. My ball bags are full of snacks and my cell phone, so no room there.

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Trimmed to relevant parts from the X.com post 2:20 video Oregon MC at Plate 2025.05 - HD 720p.mov

An old version of MLBUM (emphasis added): Note that under the Official Baseball Rules, a fielder is protected while in the act of fielding a batted ball. In addition, a fielder is also protected while in the act of making a play after having fielded a batted ball. If, after a player has fielded a batted ball but before he is able to throw the ball, a runner hinders or impedes such fielder, the runner shall be called out for interference. Furthermore, a runner who is judged to have hindered a fielder who is attempting to make a play on a batted ball is out whether the hindrance was intentional or not.

You can't obstruct when you have possession of the ball. You didn't say when rule set this game was played under. There is an interpretation somewhere (can't remember where) that says the fielder is protected not just while he's fielding the ball, but while he is throwing it as well. In other words, the entire play is considered in the act of fielding. The proper call here is interference, so they got it right.

I'm going to guess it is for the marching band to practice. They need lines for blocking.