OBS During a Steal

[Mudder]

In a 2 man system, If I'm BU in B or C, and R1 is stealing or R2 is stealing (or both), who's responsibility is it to look for OBS?

I mean as the BU in B or C I'm tracking the throw all the way and turn toward the base to make the call at the last moment, so I'm only picking up the runner as he is a few feet from the bag.

PU has a better view of the runner, but he's watching the pitch for the ball/strike call, possible check swing, possible HBP, possible dropped 3rd strike, possible batter interference, etc. so how much time does he have to actually see the

runner(s) and possible OBS on F4 on R1 stealing, or OBS on F6 if R2 is stealing?

[JaxRolo]

No way PU can see anything with tracking the pitch. Just do what you can. Can't call what you can't see.

[NFUA_44]

It's really the responsibility of whomever see's it, but the PU is going to be the one who will "notice" it (most likely). If you suspect that you have an F4 or F6 that could be a problem then make sure you check the runner before the pitch, and make a quick mental note of where the possible OBS might come from (i.e. where is F4 playing?). If needed you can take a quick look when the steal starts to happen, to see if anything happens. The ball is being thrown to the base in either case so you will know where to pick it back up from, and if it's overthrown into the OF you'll have time to pick that up also.

2 man is a combination of alot of things, most of them compromises we have to make to try and catch everything and apply the rules for both sides as the independent arbiter of the game. Do the best you can to get a peek at something, even if it means not watching every single second of a throw going to a base. IMHO

[mstaylor]

He's got a better look that the BU but that is a shortcoming of a two man.

[Guest]

This call is made by the F1 of the team whose runner was obstructed and the penalty imposed is a Rawlings to the earhole of the offending individual.

Any OBS that is not a blatant attempt to prevent the runner from having a chance to steal the base AKA occurring around the bag should be able to be picked up by BU.