Obstruction, interference, or nothing.

[eagle_12]

Wanted to share a play I had in a game recently (NFHS, 4-man, I've got 2nd)

R1, 1 out. Batter hits a Texas leaguer to shallow right field. When ball comes off bat F3 turns the look at the ball and takes a couple steps towards outfield thinking he may go after the ball. F4 goes to chase ball, and F9 comes in. R1 retreats immediately towards first off the bat. R1 and F3 make contact, tangle/untangle quickly and R1 hangs near first thinking ball will be caught, F3 resumes his normal responsibilities. Ball falls to the ground, R1 takes off now to 2nd, retired easily at 2nd.

After the play, Off. manager comes out, says/asks to the crew in general that his runner was obstructed going to 2nd. 4 of us get together, plate guy and I both saw the contact and actually viewed it and judged it in the same manner. Plate guy and I felt that F3 didn't have a play on the ball at all and R1 wasn't hindered in any attempt to return or advance to a base while a play was being made on him. After the contact, the two involved players kinda "reset" themselves to where they should have been without any contact.

thought on the way we ruled? Obs/Int/Nothing?

[Stan W.]

"NOTHING" sounds right to me..........from the way it reads, the contact was incidental and that they both had time to resume play without ill effect........I'd say a "good no call"......and good umpiring....not every situation needs/deserves/requires a rule stuffed in it.......

[noumpere]

Since F3 wasn't protected it cant be int.

 

You could have had OBS but if the R1 was where he would have been had the contact not happened then I agree with your call.

 

As Ive said before, just like contact isn't needed for OBS, not all contact is OBS.

[mstaylor]

If the runner was returning when they contacted, that's nothing. They were not going to play on him at first, they made the play to second. Now if the contact prevented him from making his reversal to second then they have a case. Sounds like nothing to me. 

[maven]

Since F3 wasn't protected it cant be int.

 

You could have had OBS but if the R1 was where he would have been had the contact not happened then I agree with your call.

 

As Ive said before, just like contact isn't needed for OBS, not all contact is OBS.

 

This covers it. Your contact was nothing.

[townesgs]

Just to play devil's advocate.... 

 

Though we may disagree with the "spirit" of the rule and its application, in respect to NFHS Baseball Rules, this is clearly defined as OBSTRUCTION and requires a minimum award of one base to the obstructed runner beyond his position on base when the obstruction occurred.  Within NFHS rules, it does not matter whether the runner was returning to a base or advancing when the OBSTRUCTION infraction occurs. That's the black and white.

 

The Gray....

 

I wasn't there and every umpire and his/her judgement is unique.  If you are a fan of "advantage baseball".... good call.  No one gained from the situation.

[noumpere]

 in respect to NFHS Baseball Rules, this is clearly defined as OBSTRUCTION .

I disagree.  OBS is DEFINED  something like "hinders the runner or changes the pattern of play."  This did neither so it wasn't OBS.  I do agree that if it was OBS in FD that we would have to award second.

[maven]

 

in respect to NFHS Baseball Rules, this is clearly defined as OBSTRUCTION .

I disagree.  OBS is DEFINED  something like "hinders the runner or changes the pattern of play."  This did neither so it wasn't OBS.  I do agree that if it was OBS in FD that we would have to award second.

 

First, to townesgs: the definition tells you only what OBS is. You still must decide whether that definition applies to any given case.

 

In this case, I agree with noumpere. As described, the runner experienced no significant hindrance in contacting the fielder. R1 expected the ball to be caught and wanted to be near 1B in order to retouch. He was able to accomplish that after the contact.

 

Again, the crucial concept with OBS is hindrance. Sometimes, as here, you have contact but no hindrance. Sometimes you have hindrance but no contact (as when a runner has to go around a fielder without the ball). Calling OBS correctly requires us to judge whether the runner is hindered.