Obstruction at 1st base

[LDS]

On throws to 1st base what exactly constitutes obstruction on 1st baseman covering the bag?  I've seen time and time again the 1st baseman on a routine ground ball take the throw with his foot at the back of the base.  I can somewhat understand at 9 and 10 years old but I'm seeing this all the way up to high school age.  They are not giving the runner much room if any to cross the base.  Also had a 3rd strike passed ball where 1st baseman stood right on the baseline and stretched to take the catchers throw not leaving runner any base to touch.  When discussing with other umpires it seems like the answer is always well the runner needs to run through the first baseman?  Can obstruction be called and if so is it a judgement call on how much of the base 1st base was blocking or is it true runner should just run through him?  That just doesn't sound right to me.  A lot of the time I can see the runner slowing down trying to figure out how to touch base without causing a collision.  Seems to me that should be obstruction if they feel the need to alter what they are doing bases on where 1st baseman is standing.  This is not the train wreck play where ball and runner arrive at the same time and the throw takes the 1st baseman into the runner.  This is just not playing first base the right way or in the case of the 9 and 10 year olds it is being clumsy, awkward and still learning the game.   Also, on a pick off move at any base, can fielder be pretty much blocking bag giving runner nowhere to get back or would that also be obstruction?  Where I umpire I rarely see any calls on these type of plays.  I think a lot of times it is obstruction but the umpires don't want to cause controversy.  Now they have me confused with what I thought I already knew.

[beerguy55]

First baseman is putting themselves at risk as much as (if not more than) the runner.

The fielder is required to provide the runner a path TO the base, not beyond or through it.

So, by rule, there's no OBS.

I don't like the rule because it encourages collisions and punishes the runner for doing the right thing.

Having said that, what you see is what you JUDGE, and I can't question what YOU see or judge.  At the risk of a lot of amateur videographers raising a stink, if you see/judge the first baseman was blocking the runner's access to the bag, well, Hell, we have OBS now don't we.

 

 

On the pickoff, in FED he has to have the ball...in OBR he must be in the act of receiving the ball...if he's blocking the base when the pitcher's still on the rubber, and then they try to pick off, it looks like OBS to me.  If he has the ball, he's free to drop a knee and block the base.  If you have the ball you can sit on the base if you want.

 

[JonnyCat]

2 hours ago, LDS said:

A lot of the time I can see the runner slowing down trying to figure out how to touch base without causing a collision.

I'm not sure if you are referencing Little League rules or maybe High School. Regardless, the standard for both is similar.

In LL, the definition of obstruction reads in part: "Is the act of a fielder who, while not in possession of the ball, impedes the progress of any runner."

In HS, the definition reads in part: "Is an act by a fielder, any member of the defensive team....that hinders a runner or changes the pattern of the play...."

In LL and HS, if you are going to impede the runner, you must have possession of the ball. There is no "in the act of fielding" provision in LL and HS.

Official Baseball Rules (OBR) has a different standard.

Like Beerguy55 says, OBR has the in the act of fielding provision. HS and LL do not. So it depends on the rule-set you are using.

In LL and HS, if the act of the first baseman, without possession of the ball, hinders or impeded the progress of the runner, it's probably obstruction. If the first baseman's foot causes the runner to alter their path, before 1B has possession of the ball, then I would have obstruction.

2 hours ago, LDS said:

Also had a 3rd strike passed ball where 1st baseman stood right on the baseline and stretched to take the catchers throw not leaving runner any base to touch. 

Probably obstruction in LL and HS. 

2 hours ago, LDS said:

Also, on a pick off move at any base, can fielder be pretty much blocking bag giving runner nowhere to get back or would that also be obstruction? 

Probably obstruction in LL and HS.

 

Find out what rule-set you are playing under, look for the definition of Obstruction in that rule-set, and it will help you understand the rule being utilized. LL, HS, and OBR is what I know rule wise. I'm not sure about Pony, Cal Ripken, Travelball, etc. Those all could be using a different definition of Obstruction.

[maven]

I recommend addressing it with the coach, as F3 setting up with his foot all the way across the base is poor technique and rather unsafe. If you do it loud enough for the other coach to hear, he should recognize that you've addressed the safety aspect for his runners.

"Coach, #3 is setting up with his foot across the base. Best case, the runner misses him. But at some point he's going to get hurt, and if the runner has to slow down, that will be ruled OBS, and he'll be awarded 1B."

That way, we do what we can to protect the players while leaving the coaching up to the coaches. If it's 9U daddy ball, more instruction might be required (pretty sure F3 never got instruction); if it's HS, that should be sufficient (coach might or might not have known F3 does this).

[GiantEngineer]

On 6/16/2023 at 2:28 PM, beerguy55 said:

The fielder is required to provide the runner a path TO the base, not beyond or through it.

What about on a tangle up from an over throw to the fence with the runner beyond the base? Is the fielder not liable at that point if the runner tries to advance?

[noumpere]

9 hours ago, GiantEngineer said:

What about on a tangle up from an over throw to the fence with the runner beyond the base? Is the fielder not liable at that point if the runner tries to advance?

Possibly, depending on the rules code, the timing and the specific actions.