Obstruction on pickoff

[carolinablue]

Saw this play the other day. LL Seniors, pick off play at 2B, runner is caught sleeping. Throw comes in high but F4 jumps and catches it. As he comes down he immediately drops to both knees completely blocking base. He has ball in glove and free hand in glove securing the ball. R2 is just diving back and his helmet hits glove and ball comes out within arms reach of F4. R2 is trying to reach around F4 but is still blocked out as F4 picks up ball and tags runner.

Question : I know when F4 had the ball he was legal by blocking the base, but when it came out and runner was still blocked out, shouldn't that be obstruction at that point ? Umpires in this game let the play stand. Runner was called out, no argument from coaches.

[BrianC14]

Saw this play the other day. LL Seniors, pick off play at 2B, runner is caught sleeping. Throw comes in high but F4 jumps and catches it. As he comes down he immediately drops to both knees completely blocking base. He has ball in glove and free hand in glove securing the ball. R2 is just diving back and his helmet hits glove and ball comes out within arms reach of F4. R2 is trying to reach around F4 but is still blocked out as F4 picks up ball and tags runner.

Question : I know when F4 had the ball he was legal by blocking the base, but when it came out and runner was still blocked out, shouldn't that be obstruction at that point ? Umpires in this game let the play stand. Runner was called out, no argument from coaches.

Fielder has to have the ball in his possession. Based on your description, that should have been ruled obstruction by F4.

[Astrosdawg07]

Fielder has to have the ball in his possession. Based on your description, that should have been ruled obstruction by F4.

See I disagree here, F4 is in the acting of making a baseball play if you will. I believe this is a good no call.

[mstaylor]

If the ball is with-in easy reach, I would have nothing. If he has to really stretch after it then he needs to clear. I can't really describe what's acceptable and what isn't, it's a HTBT.

[therefump]

See I disagree here, F4 is in the acting of making a baseball play if you will. I believe this is a good no call.

Most definitely HTBT. However, it sounds like a bang-bang play all around. I can't see obstruction being called on something like this.....somewhat of a "train wreck". B) It's a no-win all around.

[BrianC14]

Most definitely HTBT. However, it sounds like a bang-bang play all around. I can't see obstruction being called on something like this.....somewhat of a "train wreck". B) It's a no-win all around.

How is it a banger if he: leaped for the ball, came down with it, then (legally) blocked the bag - but lost the ball and we're told it was "an arm's length away - he can't just keep blocking (read that: OBSTRUCTING) the bag while he goes fishing for the ball, in the meantime, the runner is trying to get around F4, but is being blocked - again - read that: obstructed.

About the only agreement I have is the HTBT. Otherwise, I took all points into consideration from the OP.

[therefump]

How is it a banger if he: leaped for the ball, came down with it, then (legally) blocked the bag - but lost the ball and we're told it was "an arm's length away - he can't just keep blocking (read that: OBSTRUCTING) the bag while he goes fishing for the ball, in the meantime, the runner is trying to get around F4, but is being blocked - again - read that: obstructed.

About the only agreement I have is the HTBT. Otherwise, I took all points into consideration from the OP.

BrianC14,

re-read original post and unless this is in super-slow motion on the players part it had to occur in less than 2 seconds. That's why I posted the HTBT. :agasp_:You are right if the fielder is going on a fishing expedition for the ball, however. My IMPRESSION was that it was a banger. If not, you are certainly correct.B)

[carolinablue]

It really wasn't a close play so to speak. If F4 would have held on to the ball it would have been a no brainer. From where I was it looked like he picked the ball up cleanly and applied the tag.

From reading the preceeding posts I am thinking this way.

Since F4 got his positioning legally, if he just reached down and picked the ball up I would probably let it go. If he does anything else such as move his legs or body in any way to make it harder on the runner to reach the base, probably obstruction. Basicly, as long as he maintains the position he has established, I would let it go. And I agree, if he doesn't get the ball quickly , it's obstruction. No Fishing.

Edited May 28, 2009 by carolinablue

[noumpere]

In FED, the OP would be obstruction (assuming F4 denied complete access to the base).

[catoblue]

HTBT for sure, chances are, I don't call OBS because, as previously mentioned, it's simply a train wreck.

[BrianC14]

BrianC14,

re-read original post and unless this is in super-slow motion on the players part it had to occur in less than 2 seconds. That's why I posted the HTBT. :agasp_:You are right if the fielder is going on a fishing expedition for the ball, however. My IMPRESSION was that it was a banger. If not, you are certainly correct.

That's why I also agree with it being HTBT. Two seconds? OK, let's figure it's two seconds. One Mississippi, two Mississippi.... and in that time the runner is attempting to get around F4 who is STILL blocking the base even though he doesn't have possession of the ball. And we all know that possession of the ball is necessary.

I think the 'banger' part of the play is over when F4 dropped the ball B) and this turns into obstruction. I'm not going to reward: a) bad throw (F4 had to leap) AND an error on F4 (dropping the ball) and still give him the out.

Two seconds - that's an eternity given that the runner is right there - F4 is obstructing the runner. If F4 (again, ) booted the play. No cookie for F4. :clap:

[MCLEOD36]

In this play as I visualize, R2 is sleeping and doesnt react to the ball until it is in the fielders glove. Fielder is not obstructing prior to the catch, because he is jumping to get the ball, but once he has it, he comes down and blocks the base. Thus, no obstruction. Now the twist, R2 had access to the base prior to the ball being recieved, once the ball was recieved fielder acted like a catcher blocked base, the nuance is ball knocked out because of R2, but because it was in arms length and he restablished possession, R2 is toast... No Obstruction.