Obstruction or Out?

[mstaylor]

When you have obstruction, no matter the rule set, you have to decide the degree of harm it caused, if any at all. An action by the defense can cause a delay in the runner's action but you have to read the play and see if it actually is obstruction. The difference in FED is if you have obstruction, you don't have to make sure he could have made the next base without the obstruction.

For explanation purposes only I give another play completely. Ball hit to RF, BR rounds first making a usual check and return to first, absolutely no intention of advancing. In doing so he collides with F3. Again no affect on the play. If you call obstruction, then he gets second. The problem is he wasn't trying to advance so he obstructed nothing. The only way that becomes an obstruction is if they throw behind him going back to first. At that point you announce the obstruction and award him second.

In the OP, it is a little more complicated because we don't know what the obstruction was or whether it was while advancing to third or returning to second.

[poppyfor3]

Michael, Thanks again. Now perfectly clear. I appreciate your taking the time to clarify. Jack

[noumpere]

When you have obstruction, no matter the rule set, you have to decide the degree of harm it caused, if any at all. An action by the defense can cause a delay in the runner's action but you have to read the play and see if it actually is obstruction. The difference in FED is if you have obstruction, you don't have to make sure he could have made the next base without the obstruction.

For explanation purposes only I give another play completely. Ball hit to RF, BR rounds first making a usual check and return to first, absolutely no intention of advancing. In doing so he collides with F3. Again no affect on the play. If you call obstruction, then he gets second. The problem is he wasn't trying to advance so he obstructed nothing. The only way that becomes an obstruction is if they throw behind him going back to first. At that point you announce the obstruction and award him second.

In the OP, it is a little more complicated because we don't know what the obstruction was or whether it was while advancing to third or returning to second.

Right. Too many people seem to think that contact and obstruction are the same thing when in fact you can have either without the other. Its obstruction we need to be looking for not contact.

[mstaylor]

I look at obstruction as a time issue. Did the contact or change of direction cause a longer time interval than the distance from the base he got thrown out at. If the answer is yes, then award him the base or bases needed to nullify the obstruction. If he overruns his protection then he is out. Tejada gave us a perfect example some years back, pre Baltimore days. He was obstructed going around third, heard the umpire announce it and slowed to a slow trot to the plate. He got thrown out by a ton and it stood. If he had continued to run normally, it would have been close and the obstruction would have earned him the plate.