catcher's obstruction and run down at third

[tldavis19]

This situation came up last week:

 

1 out runners at second and third. VT batting. Pitch comes in and batter swings and contacts F2's mitt and also hits the ball fair toward F1. BR breaks for first and R1 breaks for home. F1 fields and throws behind the runner to third just as the runner turns to run back to third. Run down pursues ending with R1 getting tagged out. BR made it to first easily during the rundown.

 

It was ruled that BR was safe at first so the award on the obstruction was ignored and the runner tagged out would return to third as he was not stealing or squeezing on the play. (the coach was asked and he answered that the runner was NOT stealing or squeezing).

 

Opinions?

[ricka56]

All runners need to advance to ignore CI...manager gets the choice of CI (BR to 1B, others return) or the play.

[CougarUmp]

I agree all runners need to safely advance to wash out CI.  How does stealing or squeezing alter that?  Does it have something to do with R1 being forced to advance or not? 

[Richvee]

I agree all runners need to safely advance to wash out CI.  How does stealing or squeezing alter that?  Does it have something to do with R1 being forced to advance or not? 

If a runner is stealing when CI occurs, the runner is awarded the base even if not forced.

[Nsb Brian]

All runners, including batter/runner, must advance at least one base safely before the "catcher int." can be ignored-- (same applies for a balk)

 

Note: If coach brings it up, he can elect to have the play stand-

[Dash Riprock]

If the CI is ignored, the coach has no option.

[JaxRolo]

The Umpire kicked it

[ricka56]

This umpire got the placements right...he just didn't give the coach the option (said CI was ignored), but coach had only had a no-brainer option (which the umpire enforced without asking). No biggy.

[ALStripes17]

This umpire got the placements right...he just didn't give the coach the option (said CI was ignored), but coach had only had a no-brainer option (which the umpire enforced without asking). No biggy.

Yeah, the explanation by the U was not great. You're actually applying the CI in the OP.

And the coach's option is like enforcing football penalties, there are scenarios where you know what the coach is going to want.

No point in wasting time in asking the coach. Majority of the time, they're gonna have no clue what you're talking about

[maven]

Right, so to summarize (we don't know whether the OP is OBR or FED, but it's HS season so let's call this CO):

 

1. When F2 obstructs the batter, the PU should point and say, "that's OBS." The ball remains live, so hopefully the players will continue playing.
2. Once R3 is put out, the PU should call time, put R3 back on 3B, put R2 back on 2B, and award the BR 1B.
3. The coach will have come out at that point (possibly both of them). Explain the OBS, the enforcement, and if the OC wants to know his option tell him (bases loaded & 1 out, or R1, R3 & 2 outs; I agree that this situation, where R3 failed to score, is an obvious one to enforce).
4. When the next batter comes up, be sure to announce clearly that there is 1 out, and it will be an IFF situation.

When you give a coach options for CO, be sure to give him just the outcomes. Make it as simple as possible for him: don't go on about how runners have to advance to ignore the CO, etc. etc.

[Mike Prince]

Right, so to summarize (we don't know whether the OP is OBR or FED, but it's HS season so let's call this CO):

 

1. When F2 obstructs the batter, the PU should point and say, "that's OBS." The ball remains live, so hopefully the players will continue playing.
2. Once R3 is put out, the PU should call time, put R3 back on 3B, put R2 back on 2B, and award the BR 1B.
3. The coach will have come out at that point (possibly both of them). Explain the OBS, the enforcement, and if the OC wants to know his option tell him (bases loaded & 1 out, or R1, R3 & 2 outs; I agree that this situation, where R3 failed to score, is an obvious one to enforce).
4. When the next batter comes up, be sure to announce clearly that there is 1 out, and signal to your partner that it will be an IFF situation.

When you give a coach options for CO, be sure to give him just the outcomes. Make it as simple as possible for him: don't go on about how runners have to advance to ignore the CO, etc. etc.

 

Provided a clarification in your post (which I otherwise agree with).

[maven]

[Provided a clarification in your post (which I otherwise agree with).

Friendly amendment accepted!

[Larry in TN]

Right, so to summarize (we don't know whether the OP is OBR or FED, but it's HS season so let's call this CO):

 

1. When F2 obstructs the batter, the PU should point and say, "that's OBS." The ball remains live, so hopefully the players will continue playing.
2. Once R3 is put out, the PU should call time, put R3 back on 3B, put R2 back on 2B, and award the BR 1B.
3. The coach will have come out at that point (possibly both of them). Explain the OBS, the enforcement, and if the OC wants to know his option tell him (bases loaded & 1 out, or R1, R3 & 2 outs; I agree that this situation, where R3 failed to score, is an obvious one to enforce).
4. When the next batter comes up, be sure to announce clearly that there is 1 out, and it will be an IFF situation.

When you give a coach options for CO, be sure to give him just the outcomes. Make it as simple as possible for him: don't go on about how runners have to advance to ignore the CO, etc. etc.

 

Why OBS and not INT for the CI?

 

EDIT:  Oops!  Should have Googled first and posted second.  From Wikipedia:

 

Under high school (NFHS) rules only, catcher's interference is instead called catcher's obstruction.

[noumpere]

 

Right, so to summarize (we don't know whether the OP is OBR or FED, but it's HS season so let's call this CO):

 

1. When F2 obstructs the batter, the PU should point and say, "that's OBS." The ball remains live, so hopefully the players will continue playing.
2. Once R3 is put out, the PU should call time, put R3 back on 3B, put R2 back on 2B, and award the BR 1B.
3. The coach will have come out at that point (possibly both of them). Explain the OBS, the enforcement, and if the OC wants to know his option tell him (bases loaded & 1 out, or R1, R3 & 2 outs; I agree that this situation, where R3 failed to score, is an obvious one to enforce).
4. When the next batter comes up, be sure to announce clearly that there is 1 out, and it will be an IFF situation.

When you give a coach options for CO, be sure to give him just the outcomes. Make it as simple as possible for him: don't go on about how runners have to advance to ignore the CO, etc. etc.

 

Why OBS and not INT for the CI?

 

Because it's FED and in FED it's called "Catcher's Obstruction."  (The defense always obstructs)