Post by Ed Schultz on May 18, 2006 0:32:52 GMT -5
What is Obstruction?
I have had a couple situations this week with obstruction. Specifically blocking home plate.
Obstruction is a violation of the defensive team hindering a runner or batter runner.
Rule 7.06 deals with obstruction & 7.06 (b) deals with home plate.
Basically it say that the catcher CANNOT block home plate without the ball in his POSSESSION. If he does...it is obstruction. THE RUNNER IS NOT OUT but SAFE.
I had a game on Sunday where the catcher was blocking the plate (he was up the base line about 4 or 5 feet) without the ball (it was in flight) The runner came in and hit the catcher hard, took him out. What is the correct ruling here?
The runner is safe at home because of the obstruction (assuming he touched home plate). The ball is dead. If the contact was malicious, the runner is ejected. If the contact is not malicious then he is still safe and no other infraction.
The runner does have the right to take out the catcher because he is blocking the base, weather the catcher has the ball or NOT. You wouldn't let the runner take out the catcher if he was holding the ball waiting to tag the runner would you? .....I did hear a resounding of course not! Right? So why would you let the runner take out the catcher without the ball? We as umpires need to umpire. Call obstruction.
The same is true with a run down, pickle play, pick off attempt or a throw down. NO FIELDER may block the base without the ball first. If they have the ball first, they can block all they want. But without the ball it is obstruction.
It is also obstruction if the fielder is on the base and the runner has to alter his path or running to avoid the fielder who is not making a play on the runner nor fielding the ball. The base is not a magnet for the fielder.
I have had a couple situations this week with obstruction. Specifically blocking home plate.
Obstruction is a violation of the defensive team hindering a runner or batter runner.
Rule 7.06 deals with obstruction & 7.06 (b) deals with home plate.
Basically it say that the catcher CANNOT block home plate without the ball in his POSSESSION. If he does...it is obstruction. THE RUNNER IS NOT OUT but SAFE.
I had a game on Sunday where the catcher was blocking the plate (he was up the base line about 4 or 5 feet) without the ball (it was in flight) The runner came in and hit the catcher hard, took him out. What is the correct ruling here?
The runner is safe at home because of the obstruction (assuming he touched home plate). The ball is dead. If the contact was malicious, the runner is ejected. If the contact is not malicious then he is still safe and no other infraction.
The runner does have the right to take out the catcher because he is blocking the base, weather the catcher has the ball or NOT. You wouldn't let the runner take out the catcher if he was holding the ball waiting to tag the runner would you? .....I did hear a resounding of course not! Right? So why would you let the runner take out the catcher without the ball? We as umpires need to umpire. Call obstruction.
The same is true with a run down, pickle play, pick off attempt or a throw down. NO FIELDER may block the base without the ball first. If they have the ball first, they can block all they want. But without the ball it is obstruction.
It is also obstruction if the fielder is on the base and the runner has to alter his path or running to avoid the fielder who is not making a play on the runner nor fielding the ball. The base is not a magnet for the fielder.
