Cheap Play, But is it Illegal?

[TNCoach]

Heard a coach say he saw a play where runners were going on the pitch with less than two outs. Ball was not hit, but catch threw a "pop-up" to the short stop, who began yelling "I got it!" Baserunner returns to base.

Is this legal if

a.) the baserunner just goes back to base

b.)the baserunner gets thrown out trying to return.

FED rules.

[UmpJM]

TNCoach,

FED rules are unique in employing the concept of "verbal obstruction". If the defense uses a verbal decoy and the runner reacts to it, it's obstruction and the runner is awarded a minimum of one base beyond his position at the time of obstruction. Absent the verbal, this would be a legal deke in FED, and is a legal deke in any other rule code.

See FED Case play 2.22.1A which is quite similar to your Sitch.

JM

[yawetag]

Case Play 2.22.1A says it's verbal obstruction.

[cp9]

I would rule verbal OBS based on 2.21.1A. But, by the "letter of the law," I'm not so sure I would be correct. In the case play, F6 is yelling "get back" to the runner. In the play described above, F6 yells "I got it." Technically, he could just be calling off F4. He is not talking to the runner. Bush league, yes. Verbal obstruction? I'm not so sure.

[TNCoach]

Hopefully my players would never fall for something as that. but it would be legal without the "I got it" call? I know FED has the verbal obstruction. It does leave a lot to the discretion of the umpire though. It should be obvious that it is an attempt to deke the offense but it is a throw that the player has "got." Does the words used matter in calling obstruction?

Also, one I see often but have never seen called is a verbal interference on pop-ups where the dugout yells, "I got it!" How many of you call the out every time that interferes??? Also, as the head coach, would I be within my rights to come out and discuss why that was not called interference if my player did drop it?

[TNCoach]

I would rule verbal OBS based on 2.21.1A. But, by the "letter of the law," I'm not so sure I would be correct. In the case play, F6 is yelling "get back" to the runner. In the play described above, F6 yells "I got it." Technically, he could just be calling off F4. He is not talking to the runner. Bush league, yes. Verbal obstruction? I'm not so sure.

I had seen that case ruling but the wording was different... That was why I was wondering if words matter.

[noumpere]

Hopefully my players would never fall for something as that. but it would be legal without the "I got it" call? I know FED has the verbal obstruction. It does leave a lot to the discretion of the umpire though. It should be obvious that it is an attempt to deke the offense but it is a throw that the player has "got." Does the words used matter in calling obstruction?

Also, one I see often but have never seen called is a verbal interference on pop-ups where the dugout yells, "I got it!" How many of you call the out every time that interferes??? Also, as the head coach, would I be within my rights to come out and discuss why that was not called interference if my player did drop it?

Most of the time the ball is caught anyway so theres no need to make a big deal about the interference as discussed in the "do good umpire go unnoticed" poll and thread in another part of the cite. But I do mention to the bench and or coach to knock it off and I have called interference on it in a HS game.

[UmpJM]

noumpere,

Since it's the defense engaging in the verbal shenanigans, I'm not going to concern myself with whether or not the defensive player catches the ball.

JM

[mstaylor]

John, two different questions. In the OP I would have verbal obstruction. In the second Sitch, I would have verbal interference if it was missed, I would definitely say something to the coach if it wasn't. At the varsity level they should be playing baseball not engaging in shenanigans.