Quote:
Originally posted by WestMichBlue
When an umpire judges obstruction, that umpire normally also judges protection, though they may have to wait for the end of the play to finalize their protection judgment. Ie., when a runner is knocked off route and is out by a mile, send runner back. Runner is knocked down, gets up, and is out on a close play, keep her at that base.
|
Speaking ASA, this is not necessarily true. You cannot determine base awards relying solely on how badly an obstructed runner was put out. Just because s/he was put out "by a mile" does NOT mean you send the runner back. It may mean that the runner just took longer to you anticipated getting up after being knocked down. I believe this is part of the reason the umpire needs to make some sort of determination at the time of the OBS.
Quote:
Also has to determine the maximum protected base so that if a runner is out after that point, they stay out.
But what happens when the umpire calling obstruction, by following standard mechanics, does not see the end of the play? Do they transfer the protection responsibility to their partner?
Or should your partner simply call Time, come to you and say, your obstructed runner was out. What do you want me to do?
WMB
|
I did answer this question. The umpire which calls the obstruction is the only person on that field who knows to which base the obstructed runner was protected. This is why all other umpires who did not rule obstruction, simply call what they see.