Old one

[BRUMP]

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=25581415&c_id=mlb

This is an old one but lets have some fun with it. What do you have in FED?

[Replacematt]

Obstruction. Score R3. Nothing on the contact.

[dumbdumb]

If, right at 1:01 you have the catcher with the ball when the contact occurs, would there really be obstruction for being in the way if he has the ball. Next, the push afterwards if you did not, is that a no harm, no foul, since it obviously had no bearing on helping others move up, or would moving up be inconsequential, and call interference and call someone else out, maybe the guy closest to the plate, and when should the play be dead. Next, did the catcher have the ball in his hand when he touched the runner with the glove and therefor the runner is not out on the tag but should he be out for abandoning. Once again what is the timing sequence with each possible call. Quite a few things going on here.

[Replacematt]

The catcher doesn't have the ball when he obstructs.

GOTO line 10.

(He never has the ball at anytime during the initial play, for that matter.)

[mjr_2013]

Obstruction, score the run... The push is very close to MC, but if the F2 is able to just keep running like he is, I would probably just escort R3 to the dugout and tell him to watch himself.

[Replacematt]

The reason I don't have MC is that it appears to be a defensive move by an injured runner. F2 was about to initiate contact, and R3 was trying to keep him away. If he punched, elbowed, something along those lines, I have MC.

[Thunderheads]

In a HS game that's OBS all day long ........ BUT ........... in OBR, as you can see ............................

[Haid D' Salaami]

In NCAA it is not OBS either.. as long as your about to receive, or be in a position to receive a ball, you can block the plate/base.

[BT_Blue]

Honestly, this is the hardest OBS for me to call. It just feels wrong. I call it... but I don't like it.

[Rich Ives]

In NCAA it is not OBS either.. as long as your about to receive, or be in a position to receive a ball, you can block the plate/base.

 

Just for clarity: You can only be in a position to receive if you are about to receive.

Honestly, this is the hardest OBS for me to call. It just feels wrong.

 

Why?

[Sayhey]

Eric Byrnes is no Willie Mays on the base paths. What kind of slide is that? I know he does not need to slide but if he does he takes the catcher's legs out and touches home plate. The U.I.C. is out of position and on one knee and is locked into a position. I do not have obstuction at any level. Let them play the game. It's called hardball. If the Feds. Had their way they would play with a softball and each player would be wrapped in bubble wrap. There is a risk when playing hardball baseball. If you do not want to take a risk then do not strap it on and step on the field. Varitek made a baseball play. Not a good one but it is a baseball play to move into position to block home as you glove the throw. I do have interference without a play on Eric Byrnes. That is not a defensive shove. I do not have malicious contact. Interference without a play causes a time out. Call it a dead ball if you like but the ball did not die. Byrnes is out for interference and other outs could be called. All runners are placed at the base they advanced to at the time of the interference unless Byrnes interference prevented the defense from getting another out, which it did not. If Eric Byrnes, one of the goofiest players in recent history, and the worst hair in recent history, slides like a mlb player he scores and the ball goes somewhere and maybe another runner scores.

[mstaylor]

In Fed, obstruction, OBR, nothing. I might have considered interference on the shove but all you get was the runner and he ended up out anyway. 

[Mudder]

If you don't call interference on the runner for the push, and he makes an attempt to get back and touch the plate and beats the catcher, how do you justify not calling interference, unless you believed the push was a defensive move like Matt said?