IllinoisRHP

This is in the case where a play is coming and going around could slow them up enough to make it close. The options are to divert around the fielder, try to brush by the fielder (too risky with a no contact rule, it has been called against the runner a number of times), or slide to initiate contact and make it an obvious OBS call. If there is no play on the runner, it is much easier to round the base and take a different angle where the fielder is not in the way. Thanks for the feedback everyone.

I agree with all you said: 1) That is how the league rule is written. It is not worded correctly, because sliding can CAUSE contact. But if there is imminent contact, you MUST slide. You cannot try to avoid any other way. 2) I coach and umpire, so I realize there is a huge difference in viewing the game. I am just looking for a rules based opinion, but appreciate you not forcing an answer!! 3) The problem on obstruction usually comes back to league umpires understanding the intent of the rule. For this situation, they got it right one time, and the other said the runner's slide would not have reached the base...that shouldn't matter. I strive to teach the game to the rules, not to what will get you results in the game. Umpiring is tough, and at some of the younger levels you cannot worry about whether or not each umpire understands all 136 pages of the rule book. If a kid is out by a bad interpretation, then it is what it is. But at the end of the day, they will understand how to play to the rule book and how to give themselves the best chance.

You guys are awesome. Great/Quick answers to my first topic yesterday. Here, I need some help on the coaching side to instruct players. I realize this has a lot of arbitrary scenarios, so don't stress over it if it gets too complex: We play 12U AABC Baseball under MLB Rules with a league rule of "must slide to avoid contact." We have a competitive league, so there is good pace to the games...no sloppy play. This is the situation I have had more than once: Runner on 2nd, one out: Base hit to left field. Runner is advancing towards third base (no force play) and third baseman is standing in the base path 3' in front of the base. Runner slides but makes contact with the fielder and comes up short of the base by 2-feet. Contact is made well before the fielder catches the ball. Throw comes in and runner is tagged. My understanding is that contact with the fielder is immediately obstruction as long as the fielder is not in the act of catching the ball. If that is correct, here is my dilemma: Do you feel it is proper to instruct my players to slide into the feet of the fielder? I cannot afford to have them tip-toe around an out-of-place fielder because it will A) slow them down and B) teach bad habits. Is there any situation where they will slide into the fielder ahead of the tag, but not get the obstruction call? What if their slide would have clearly come up short of the base if the fielder was not in the way? Is there a better way to handle this situation as a runner?

Situation: With a runner on 1B, the first baseman plays behind the runner with a clear intention to NOT hold the runner on. The pitcher spins and throws to the open base while the fielder breaks in behind the runner and takes the throw on the base. I had previously thought this was a balk as you could not make a pickoff move to 1B without a fielder on the base. I know this is acceptable at both 2B and 3B, so I am asking only for 1B. I cannot find it in the MLB rules and think I may have misinformed myself somewhere along the way. Alternate Situation (If above is NOT a balk): Pitcher spins thinking the first baseman is holding the runner on. In seeing that he is playing off the base, he pauses for a split second until the fielder breaks for the base. Then he throws to first. Is this pause considered faking a throw to first and therefore a balk?