Obstruction Question from Coach

[bpate]

Hey guys,

Working through the rules and I stumbled on this one.

OBR 7.06a and 7.06b

It appears that under a, an obstructed runner is awarded a base past last legally touched

while under b, he is not given the same award (Umpire judgement).

Scenario 1. Pick-Off move to first and F1 obstructs R1 (Bear with me here and assume obstruction occurs). R1 is awarded 2nd. 706A

Scenario 2. B1 hits ball to center fielder. While rounding 1st, he collides with F1 who is not making a play. R1 is left on 1st if in umpires judgement he would not have made 2nd 706B

A is awarding a base whereas B is attempting to nullify the obstruction. (which may not be a base award)

Why the disparity?

[carolinablue]

In 1) A play is being made on the obstructed runner ( pick-off attempt ) so it is an immediate dead ball and by rule the runner is awarded one base beyond the base last legally touched which in this case would be 2B. In this case, once the obstruction is called the runner must be awarded 2B.

In 2) No play is being made on the obstructed runnner, so it is a delayed dead ball and the umpire will judge wether the obstruction affected the runners advancement and make base awards accordingly. In 2) it's trying to nullify the act of obstruction by making sure the runner reaches the base he would have had he not been obstructed. If the umpire felt he would have made 2B or 3B if not for the obstruction, he would have awarded the base.

I don't know exactly why the rule is written that way, maybe some of the veterans on here can help with that.

[mstaylor]

Type A is an direct obstruction while there is a play being made on him. Because the obstruction can cause an immediate out the penalty is made to be punitive. Type B can be completely benign, F3 looking the wrong way but is in the way. At this point all you are doing nullifying the obstruction which may mean no award at all.

[Dragon29]

I know I'm a bit late here, but to (I hope) further clarify MIke's point, here's how I haev always thought of it:

Type 'A' is punitive

Type 'B' is corrective

[mstaylor]

Exactly right.