Obstruction/Interference

[RichMSN]

Was working an adult league game on Saturday (both my weekend games went 11 innings, BTW). We had a play where I, surprisingly, had both teams reasonably happy (or at least not yelling in my direction) in the end.

R1+R2, 0 out. F3 is playing in front of the runner, probably anticipating a bunt.

Pop up hit to short right field. F3 goes back and tangles with R1 coming off the base. At this point, I had my doubts on whether I'd protect F3 here, as, well, the ball was still on the way up. I noted that I had seen something (well, to myself, as I didn't want to stop play if I decided it was obstruction 5 seconds later) and watched as F4 came over, never got settled under it, and dropped it after a final lunge.

After the play is over, F4 is yelling in the direction of the BU for an infield fly and F3 is telling me he was interfered with.

For a split second, I thought, "It's 93 degrees and I could use a cold beer."

And I also announced that, "No, that's obstruction on you -- you didn't have a play on that ball. The runners stay where they are." Bases loaded. In my opinion, he really had no shot at getting to the baseball absent the tangle. Likewise, it wasn't an infield fly as it wasn't catchable (by anyone) with ordinary effort. Except for F4, nobody thought it was an infield fly anyway.

The manager came out briefly, I explained it again, he said OK, and went back to the dugout.

After the inning F5 (who is a coach of the team and is a local HS coach) said, "I know it's judgment whether you think he had a play. I might disagree, but I can't really argue with it." Helps that we have some personal experience with this coach and he knows us well.

Anyone think I need to make that obstruction/interference decision immediately? Personally, I don't -- I think it's premature to make a call while the ball is still on the way up.

(The key takeaway for other umpires here, IMO, is this: When a ball gets hit in the air, don't look at the baseball -- it's going to come down -- find the fielders. If I had looked up, I would've never seen the tangle/untangle between R1 and F3 as it happened immediately and we would've had a much different result. Oh, and had about 20 of the other teams in the league been involved, I probably would've ejected someone. )

[umpcoachfather]

HTBT - I dont judge talent or speed on the field. Could F3 have gotten there? Maybe?? your call - you made it stick with it good job. and drink the cold beer after the game. What was the other ump doing? The fly ball and runners are the responsibility of the umpires, which one were you?

[noumpere]

HTBT - I dont judge talent or speed on the field. Could F3 have gotten there? Maybe?? your call - you made it stick with it good job. and drink the cold beer after the game. What was the other ump doing? The fly ball and runners are the responsibility of the umpires, which one were you?

It's not if F3 could of gotten there its whether F3 was the fielder most likely to make the play. Only that fielder can be the protected fielder (and I recognize that the protected fielder can change during the course of the play). Most of the time on popups of any height beyond the infield it's either F4 or F6 who is protected not F3 or F5, but I wasnt there to see this so I wont comment on the specifics of this play

[RichMSN]

The base umpire was doing what he was supposed to do. In this case, not much of anything.

He wouldn't have seen the tangle of F3/R1 immediately after the batter ball and the ball took F4 over towards the right field line, so I called and took the baseball.

[UmpTTS43]

Why did you leave the runners at their bases when the ball dropped? Just wondering.

[RichMSN]

HTBT - I dont judge talent or speed on the field. Could F3 have gotten there? Maybe?? your call - you made it stick with it good job. and drink the cold beer after the game. What was the other ump doing? The fly ball and runners are the responsibility of the umpires, which one were you?

It's not if F3 could of gotten there its whether F3 was the fielder most likely to make the play. Only that fielder can be the protected fielder (and I recognize that the protected fielder can change during the course of the play). Most of the time on popups of any height beyond the infield it's either F4 or F6 who is protected not F3 or F5, but I wasnt there to see this so I wont comment on the specifics of this play

In the end I'm going to protect one fielder, sure, and in this case I'm protecting F4 -- however, when it happened I wasn't sure if I was going to protect F3 or F4 -- I needed to see how the play developed first. And the fact that F4 got a glove on it has really no bearing on whether I'm protecting F3 or F4.

Just thought it was an interesting play is all. You can go weeks or years without something that tests knowledge of the rules and then have 2 or 3 of them in one game. Although I did have interference on an infield fly in consecutive years in high school games.

[RichMSN]

Why did you leave the runners at their bases when the ball dropped? Just wondering.

It was type B obstruction. It wasn't an infield fly. What else would I do?

R1 and R2 advanced in case the OP wasn't clear. The BR was standing at first.

[noumpere]

HTBT - I dont judge talent or speed on the field. Could F3 have gotten there? Maybe?? your call - you made it stick with it good job. and drink the cold beer after the game. What was the other ump doing? The fly ball and runners are the responsibility of the umpires, which one were you?

It's not if F3 could of gotten there its whether F3 was the fielder most likely to make the play. Only that fielder can be the protected fielder (and I recognize that the protected fielder can change during the course of the play). Most of the time on popups of any height beyond the infield it's either F4 or F6 who is protected not F3 or F5, but I wasnt there to see this so I wont comment on the specifics of this play

In the end I'm going to protect one fielder, sure, and in this case I'm protecting F4 -- however, when it happened I wasn't sure if I was going to protect F3 or F4 -- I needed to see how the play developed first. And the fact that F4 got a glove on it has really no bearing on whether I'm protecting F3 or F4.

Just thought it was an interesting play is all. You can go weeks or years without something that tests knowledge of the rules and then have 2 or 3 of them in one game. Although I did have interference on an infield fly in consecutive years in high school games.

I agree with that analysis but was just responding to umpcoachfather's apaprent confusion on the rule (while at the same time recognizing that what is said isnt always what is meant and dont I know that all to well!)

[UmpTTS43]

Why did you leave the runners at their bases when the ball dropped? Just wondering.

It was type B obstruction. It wasn't an infield fly. What else would I do?

R1 and R2 advanced in case the OP wasn't clear. The BR was standing at first.

Got cha. Nice job.

[umpcoachfather]

HTBT - I dont judge talent or speed on the field. Could F3 have gotten there? Maybe?? your call - you made it stick with it good job. and drink the cold beer after the game. What was the other ump doing? The fly ball and runners are the responsibility of the umpires, which one were you?

It's not if F3 could of gotten there its whether F3 was the fielder most likely to make the play. Only that fielder can be the protected fielder (and I recognize that the protected fielder can change during the course of the play). Most of the time on popups of any height beyond the infield it's either F4 or F6 who is protected not F3 or F5, but I wasnt there to see this so I wont comment on the specifics of this play

In the end I'm going to protect one fielder, sure, and in this case I'm protecting F4 -- however, when it happened I wasn't sure if I was going to protect F3 or F4 -- I needed to see how the play developed first. And the fact that F4 got a glove on it has really no bearing on whether I'm protecting F3 or F4.

Just thought it was an interesting play is all. You can go weeks or years without something that tests knowledge of the rules and then have 2 or 3 of them in one game. Although I did have interference on an infield fly in consecutive years in high school games.

I agree with that analysis but was just responding to umpcoachfather's apaprent confusion on the rule (while at the same time recognizing that what is said isnt always what is meant and dont I know that all to well!)

what confusion with what rule?

[noumpere]

what confusion with what rule?

You said "Could F3 have gotten there?". Thats required of course but not sufficient to have an INT call on R1.

[umpcoachfather]

Could F3 have gotten there? Maybe?? your call - please reread.