Quote:
Originally posted by Michael Taylor
I would say make it a type B obtuction and either protect him back to first or to second depending where everything lands. If it's a park that has tons of foul territory then he's probably going to second. If it's a tight field I'm keeping him at first.
Now change the play just a little. The throw is coming from third but up the line so the F4 goes for the back up immediately. He has a good chance of gloving the ball before it gets to the fence and they collide on the overrun. Is he now fielding or are you still protecting him.
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Now, Mike:
If it's obstruction, the runner must go to second. You can't protect him back to first; he's ALREADY protected to first.
On the McGriff's Board we discussed a play where a runner was obstructed at third and later tagged out 5 feet from home. In other words, he advanced 85 feet after the obstruction; and someone argued that -- in and of itself -- did not prove intent to advance! And the runner, therefore, could be out.
Here's the key to an obstruction call:
It is obstruction if a fielder who is not protected impedes or hinders the advance or return of a runner during a fair or catchable batted ball or during a thrown ball. (J/R, 70)
"Might have advanced" isn't good enough. After all, I was castigated in harsh terms for thinking that an actual advance of 85 feet was -- an advance!
Of course, the second baseman HAS hindered B1's return to first.
Who cares? B1 can't be out at first.
Now, one could argue -- as Osborne might -- that the PC call is obstruction because that's what everybody expects. I myself believe that's often the proper thing to do. In 51 Ways to Ruin a Baseball Game, I point that out as the number one blunder: Making an unusual call on a routine play. In effect, the best call is often the expected call.
But then, with R2, when the pitcher picks up his non-pivot foot and slowly turns toward second, stopping half way, the fans always scream: "Balk!" Sometimes umpires just have to make the right call.
Concerning your second play: The throw is from behind the runner, F4 backs up the play, the ball is over-thrown, and as F4 goes to pick up the ball, B1 -- legally over-running the base -- smacks him, preventing the play.
Train wreck, no? Each participant is where he's supposed to be, doing what he's supposed to be doing. F4 has a perfect right to back up a throw ro F3. B1 has a perfect right to over-run the base, for that's central to the philosophy of producing close plays at first.
Somehow, in the last few years, in games played by amateurs everyone has begun to find obstruction and interference everywhere. Contact on the diamond is inevitable. When it is illegal, penalize it. But only when it's illegal.
As Henry Fonda said in Twelve Angry Men, "We're not convinced. We want to hear more."