[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally posted by greymule
Good post, AtlUmpSteve. The various conflicts that abound in the books don't make things any easier.

The OBS call is the most difficult one for me in ASA. Unfortunately, questionable instances occur dozens of times a year. I know softball is not baseball, and I generally have no problem differentiating softball rules from OBR rules, but I admit I have a hard time calling OBS on a play that in a lifetime of OBR has always been "nothing."

Apparently, you do have a problem differentiating between the two to make such a statement.

Why isn't OBS a problem in MLB?

How about because that is a different game, with different rules, different philosophical beliefs and priorities.

Because the runners don't slow down when a fielder is in their way, whether he was drawn there or not. So while wrecks do occur, the fielders usually know where not to stand and what not to do. When a runner is approaching, catchers don't stand up the line blithely watching a throw come in from the outfield. And both fielder and runner know when to brace for a collision.

You are finally getting to the answer of your question. It's the COACHING!!! Where do most of your youth coaches get their experience? That's right, baseball as they knew it. At all levels of softball you still have people who believe what they saw on TV or did in LL/Babe Ruth/American Legion or whatever brand of baseball they played, is true for all games. It is not, but what makes it more difficult to teach are the umpires that allow things to happen in a softball game because his baseball philosophy doesn't fit. And, yes, I've met quite a few of them, one the field and in the stands.

I can understand that to prevent injuries in school and amateur ball, Fed and ASA are writing rules to induce fielders and runners to avoid contact. But calling OBS on a throw that draws F3 into the BR? I'll have to do some serious mental training if I'm going to call that OBS.

Not if you understand the game of softball, you shouldn't. An umpire makes that call because the runner is a victim of their opponent's error. You are only protecting them to 1B, not giving them extra bases for taking the hit. If you aren't going to rule obstruction, why shouldn't the players be coached to always throw the ball wide-right? In case the throw is late, F3 can knock down the BR trying to catch the "errant" throw. Meanwhile, F4/F2 retrieves the ball and tags them out. It must have happened somewhere, or it probably wouldn't be in the book.