Quote:
Originally posted by Robert G
I am PU, ground ball to F3 and as F1 is covering 1st he (accordingly to the other teams coach) obstucts B1 as my partner calls him(B1) out. The coach appeals to me about the obstruction( which I clearly did not see) And I ask my partner what he has?
My question is who makes the obstuction call? I had thought that I am watching for a lane interference, & that if my partner wants my advice on appeal he would ask me not the other way around
[Edited by Robert G on Apr 29th, 2001 at 08:30 AM]
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Robert,
There are a few issues in your post. I'll take one at a time.
First of all, you said that the coach
appealed to you. If I understand you correctly, what you meant, is that the coach
asked you about the obstruction. The coach is allowed by rule to appeal batting out of turn and checked swings - and not judgment calls on the bases.
During the plate meeting, with coaches who are unfamiliar with me, I make it quite clear that if they have a question about a call, request time, and then ask
the umpire who made the call.
Traditionally, the plate umpire calls any obstructions, interferences, or tag plays
up to the 45-foot lane and not beyond. Once the runner reaches the 45-foot lane, the plate umpire then has the responsibility for any running lane interference, as well as observing the pulled foot or swipe tag and calling it only if asked by the base umpire.
There are opposing viewpoints, as demonstrated by this thread. The plate umpire could make an obstruction call beyond the 45-foot lane. Just be aware that there are some base umpires who may frown upon that practice. Some old timers might get steamed, and feel you stole their call away from them. They might feel that you called the obstruction just to show them up, punctuate their shortcomings, or make them look bad. Others, still, might believe that there was no actual obstruction, and your intrusion into their play shows your inexperience or incompetence.
Be on the same page as your partner. Know when your coverage responsibilities begin and end, and make sure your partner knows, too. If you have a hard and fast rule which limits the plate umpire's responsibility to before the running lane, stick with that.
There are umpires who are from the, "get it right at all costs," school of umpiring. They might recommend that a plate umpire call any obstruction that he sees anywhere on the base paths. I am from the, "get it right the first time," school of umpiring, and unless it's really obvious that my partner was completely blocked from seeing a blatant violation, I'm going to support my partner's judgment, and not undermine it.
The base umpire is called the
base umpire for a very good reason. I wouldn't want him to decide that my ball was really a strike and overturn me, so I'm certain that he doesn't want me to decide that his no-call should actually be a call.