Possible obstruction

[Guest Bobby]

I think I know the answer but couldn't find a clear rule on the internet or rule book. 

Scenario: 

Runners at first and second, batter hits a hard grounder to third, runners take off. Ball goes through the third baseman's legs and stands up. Runner on second who is going to third stutter steps to get around the third baseman, because the runner had to change his path he misses third base and comes into score. Defense team appeals and umpires call the runner out at third which I think is the right call. Runner should have gone back to third, if this happened could the offence team call obstruction and be awarded home? 

 

Thanks for the site, used it a couple times now and really helps out. 

[Richvee]

A couple things.

1. The offense can't " call obstruction". The umpire calls obstruction when it happens ,and play continues. At the end of playing action, the umpire can award bases that he believes the runner(s) would have reached safely had there been no obstruction. There are many particulars and some differences on the particulars of obstruction depending on the rule set.(Official BaseballRules (OBR), high school (FED), NCAA).

2. I believe it is the same in all rule sets, if the umpire calls obstruction and in his his judgement the runner missed the base because of the obstruction, he may deny the appeal of the missed base. Just because the umpire calls obstruction doesn't necessarily mean he will judge the missed base was because of the obstruction.  If there is no obstruction call during the play, then the runner undoubtedly needs to touch the bag or risk being called out on appeal.

3. In your case, it sounds like there was a good chance F5 obstructed R2. Was it called by an umpire? If not, then the base must be touched and there is no obstruction.

4. It would be impossible for us to judge without seeing the play if the obstruction caused the runner to miss third base. .

Hope that helps.

[scrounge]

Just from the description of the play, I'm going to assume that the ball wasn't around the feet or otherwise within a close step and reach of the fielder. If it was, the fielder would still be protected and making an initial play on the ball so wouldn't be guilty of obstructing at that point. If the runner had time to score, the ball must be well beyond the fielder.

So then we're left to judge a) whether this was obstruction, b) whether the obstruction directly and immediately led to missing the base, and c) where would the runner have reasonably gotten absent the obstruction.

Let's just assume for purposes of the play that it is obstruction. There is a case play where the missed base can be 'awarded' but this is only when the obstruction directly causes the missed base, such as an errant throw at 1B that causes F3 to push into the runner's path right at the base. If the fielder isn't very close to the base, I'd be extremely hard pressed to say the obstruction caused the missed base. If the runner had any time at all to get back on path, then he still has to run the bases legally. So it would be quite unlikely to save the runner from the missed base in how I'm envisioning this play.

Now we're down to the case where he did return. At this point, it's judgement as to what base you protected him. If you thought he would have made it their absent the obstruction, then sure, you could award him home.

[ElkOil]

4 hours ago, Guest Bobby said:

Runner should have gone back to third, if this happened could the offence team call obstruction and be awarded home? 

No.

As Rich said, only umpires can call obstruction. The runner should run the bases as he sees fit and the umpire will grant or deny appeals from the defense. If the runner was obsructed and decided to stay on 3B, the umpire may call obstruction and award him home, but it's entirely up to his judgement.

[maven]

11 hours ago, Richvee said:

I believe it is the same in all rule sets, if the umpire calls obstruction and in his his judgement the runner missed the base because of the obstruction, he may deny the appeal of the missed base.

This is the tricky part, and I nearly had to dump a coach over this once. The problem is that R2 still missed the base, so on what basis can the PU properly deny the appeal? After all, even awarded bases must be touched by rule, right?

The problem comes from a minute wording difference between FED and OBR. For FED, the penalty for OBS is: "The umpire shall award the obstructed runner and each other runner(s) any additional bases that would nullify the obstruction." Coach has a point when he argues that awarded bases must still be touched.

OBR gives us more latitude when penalizing OBS: "The umpire shall then call “Time” and impose such penalties, if any, as in his judgment will nullify the act of obstruction." OBR clearly allows us to award not only the base, but the missed touch of the base, when that touch was prevented by the OBS. And that additional award justifies denying the appeal.

I don't know whether FED has a ruling over the years that aligns its (very slightly) different rule with OBR's (don't have time to check now), but I apply it exactly the same. Frankly, I think we have to, or {OBS at 3B + missed base appeal} will become a coaching strategy.

[Senor Azul]

FED 2017 SITUATION 16: With a runner on first base, the batter hits a single down the right-field foul line. As the runner from first base nears second base, he is obstructed by the shortstop, which causes him to not touch second base. The runner continues to advance and arrives safely at third base. The defense calls “time,” and then appeals the runner missing second base. RULING: The runner is not out on appeal. If, in the umpire’s judgment, the obstruction caused the runner to miss second base, the appeal is denied and the runner’s advance is legal.

(Situation 16 interpretation was also incorporated into the 2017 Case Book as 8.2.5 Situation E.)

FED 2017 SITUATION 17: The runner from first base is advancing to second base on a passed ball and is obstructed halfway to second base by the second baseman. The ball rolls farther away from the catcher allowing the runner to advance to third base. The runner failed to touch second base as he advanced. The defense calls “time,” and appeals the runner’s failure to touch second base. RULING: The runner is declared out on the valid appeal by the defense. In the umpire’s judgment, the runner’s failure to properly touch second base was not caused by the obstruction. (8-2-6c, CB 8.2.5E)

 

 

[Senor Azul]

Mr. Richvee, you are correct that all three codes rule the same on this type of play. However, it’s actually the NCAA that spells out in a rule what to do if obstruction causes a base runner to miss a base--

NCAA rule 8-6a-3:  Note 4 If obstruction causes a runner to miss a base, the runner shall not be called out on appeal for missing the base.

The NFHS aligned their ruling with the NCAA with the addition of Case Book play 8.2.5 Situation E in 2017. As for OBR, it is by interpretation that it agrees with the NCAA:

Official Interpretation:  Wendelstedt:  If a runner does not tag up, misses a base, or never reaches a base as a result of obstruction by a fielder, the umpire may consider the base as touched or reached if he believes it would have taken place had the obstruction not occurred. (2013 WRIM, p. 148)

[Richvee]

Thanks for the rule cites and interps, as usual, Mr. Azul!