Case Play 2014-5: Legality of a Fielder Blocking a Runner

[Lindsay]

2B Umpire Fieldin Culbreth's ALDS Game 3 obstruction no-call in Detroit is the subject of the rare postseason Case Play. With one out and R2, Tigers batter Torii Hunter hit a ground ball to Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy, who threw to second baseman Jonathan Schoop in an attempt to catch Tigers...

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[JaxRolo]

Good Call!

 

Definitely INT OBS in HS FED!

[NorthTexasUmp]

Good Call!

 

Definitely INT in HS FED!

INT????

[JaxRolo]

Good Call!

 

Definitely INT in HS FED!

 

 

Good Call!

 

Definitely INT in HS FED!

INT????

 

Fixed

[NorthTexasUmp]

 

Good Call!

 

Definitely INT in HS FED!

 

 

Good Call!

 

Definitely INT in HS FED!

INT????

 

Fixed

 

I knew what you meant but was afraid others wouldn't.

[Jimurray]

I haven't even looked at the video but I believe some rationalization is taking place. The question is can one part of the fielder be protected in the act of fielding the ball while the other part can't because it is obstructing without being any part of fielding the ball.

[FleasOf1000Camels]

@Jimurray;  I was always under the impression that the fielder was only protected while in the act of fielding a BATTED ball.  In this case, the fielder was scrambling to pick up a ball that had been thrown to him and dropped while trying to apply the tag.

[benjamin-u]

@Jimurray;  I was always under the impression that the fielder was only protected while in the act of fielding a BATTED ball.  In this case, the fielder was scrambling to pick up a ball that had been thrown to him and dropped while trying to apply the tag.

 

Exactly! I found this two sentences on an other site with rule "interpretations": Until he has possession of the ball he must give the runner some way to get to the base. Obstruction can NEVER be called on a fielder for blocking a base; when he has possession of the ball.

If the situation starts with a batted ball, then i agree that a fielder is still in the act of fielding if the ball deflects of the fielder and "the ball is within the fielder's immediate reach."

[Lindsay]

This applies to not just a batted ball, but a thrown ball or any other situation in which the fielder may be considered "in the act of fielding," to include immediate reach. In the aforementioned play, the second baseman is simply fielding the throw. The concept is similar in theory to the catcher at home plate before Rule 7.13 came into existence.

[NorthTexasUmp]

There is an important difference between a "protected" fielder on a batted ball versus a thrown ball. On a batted ball, the fielder is protected from being interfered with. On a thrown ball, he is protected from being called for Obstruction. He is still protected, just from different things.