OBS - Have to award a base?

[zoops]

R2, 1 out, fly ball hit to F7 that he only has to move a couple steps to catch.  R2 is about 25 feet off of second base after his secondary lead and reaction to the hit ball.  Once R2 realizes that the ball will be caught, he starts to retreat to 2nd base and makes contact with F6.  R2 easily gets back to second base as the throw comes to 3rd base.  In the umpires' judgement there is no way R2 would have been able to tag and advance on the ball.  However:

 

 Rule 8-3: ART. 2 . . . When a runner is obstructed while advancing or returning to a base, the umpire shall award the obstructed runner a minimum of one base beyond his position on base when the obstruction occurred. The umpire shall award the obstructed runner and each other runner(s) any additional bases that would nullify the obstruction.

 

I seem to remember there being a case play that says if a BR hits a routine single and runs into the first baseman after rounding first that second base would not be awarded because there was no attempt being made to advance but I can't seem to find it right now.  Not exactly the play above but it seems the same rationale could be applied.

 

Thoughts?  Thanks.

[grayhawk]

Did the contact change the pattern of play? If not, then perhaps R2 wasn't hindered and there was no obstruction.

[BT_Blue]

If you call OBS in HS you MUST "by rule" award one base beyond the last base legally obtained at the time of OBS. In this case, it cucks, but by rule you should award third when the play is done.

[Jocko]

@zoops - if you had him protected back to 2B, he gets 3B. Is what it is.

[noumpere]

Did the contact change the pattern of play? If not, then perhaps R2 wasn't hindered and there was no obstruction.

I agree.  All contact is not OBS.  Give the "that's nothing" call and signal.

 

(You could have OBS on the play -- but given the situation R2 would practically have to be knocked down to be hindered)

[maven]

I'm not sure why the "mandatory minimum" provision is so confusing to some.

 

IF you rule OBS, then you must award at least 1 base.

 

But you are not REQUIRED to rule OBS. As others have pointed out, not all contact is OBS (just as not all contact is INT). You must use your judgment and knowledge of the game to determine whether a particular occurrence of contact represents a hindrance.

 

In the OP, it doesn't sound as if it did. With no OBS, the "mandatory minimum" does not come into play. If coach asks, then the answer is, "Coach, in my judgment your runner was not hindered by the contact."

 

It's a mandatory award IF you rule obstruction; it's NOT mandatory to rule obstruction.

[zoops]

@maven very good explanation. Danke

[sdix00]

 

 

I seem to remember there being a case play that says if a BR hits a routine single and runs into the first baseman after rounding first that second base would not be awarded because there was no attempt being made to advance but I can't seem to find it right now.  Not exactly the play above but it seems the same rationale could be applied.

 

 

NFHS Website 2008

SITUATION 14: With a lazy, one­hop single to the right fielder, the batter rounds first base with no intention

or action of advancing to second base. As he takes a few easy strides past first base, he contacts the first

baseman who is partially in his path. RULING: Since the batter was making no attempt to advance to

second base, the first baseman did not hinder him or change the pattern of the play. As a result, obstruction

would not be called. Any benefit of the doubt would be given to the batter­runner if there was a question in

the covering umpire's mind. (2-22­-1)

 

 

 

"Coach, there is no obstruction because your runner was not advancing and the contact did not alter the pattern of play"

[JaxRolo]

Use common sense.

[Jocko]

No OBS. Because I SAID so