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Originally posted by greymule
Your two plays are different. The second play shows obstruction while they were making a play on the obstructed runner. That's Type A.
Your first play they weren't. That's Type B.
I agree completely. That's why I'm confused about Rich's comment that he might not protect R2 to 3B on the original play, even with F5 stepping on 3B (obviously playing on the obstructed runner). At least that's how I read his comment—that the OBS would not have affected what was going to be an easy out anyway.
Greymule IMO you are missing a very important point concerning OBR Type B Obstruction
OBR 7.06
(b) If no play is being made on the obstructed runner, the play shall proceed until no further action is possible. The umpire shall then call "Time" and impose such penalties, if any, as in his judgment will nullify the act of obstruction.
IMO, that's Rich's point. If the runner would have been out by a "mile" anyway, then the OBS is in effect "waved off" because of the terminology IF ANY . In other words in certain circumstances under OBR Type B OBS, we as Umpires do not have to award ANY base.
BTW, this was the subject matter of a much heated debate on another Forum. Here's the play that generated the debate.
R1: 1 out. B1 hits to F6 who starts the 6-4-3 DP. R1 is obstructed by F3 but would have been out by a mile anyway. What's the ruling. The WUA was E-mailed and Rick Roder's Response was: Record the DP inning over.
IMO, that's the problem with OBR Type "B" OBS in that we do not have to award the runner ANY base as the rule states. In a way this is contrary to "other" penalies, ie; interference. With the exception of B1 interfering with F2's throw on a steal attempt, we do not WAVE OFF interference irregardless what happened, we enforce "right away", yet on Type "B" OBS we do not have to penalize.
Side Note: In FED, we KNOW the obstructed runner is going to get at least one base beyond his/her position at the time of the infraction. therefore, in a FED game, R2 is awarded 3rd base even if he /she would have been out by a mile.
Pete Booth
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Peter M. Booth
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