Quote:
Originally posted by ronald
I find it hard to determine what base to protect a runner to at the time of the obstruction. One needs to gauge the speed of the runner, how fast fielders get to the ball and if fielders bobble the ball picking it up or crash into each other. This all affects one's judgement.
Mike, we have to look at the runner and the ball in the outfield to make a judgement on where he would have gotton. I do not know how we could make this determination if we only look at the runner. We have to see the play sometime.
I'm sure the umps were trying to get some guidance on how to rule this but IMHO that advice is faulty in this instance.
|
At first, I'm thinking, "What the hell is Ronald talking about" and then I realized that maybe I was not explicit enough.
Of course, you need to find the ball. But as far as my statement is concerned, the BU's primary responsibility especially in the scenario offered is to watch the BR touch 1B and carry him/her to 2B. After the touch, the BU should turn to try to locate the ball, but not until they are sure the runner is clear of obstruction. In this case, the runner is the priority for a BU.
If this is a one-umpire game, the priority is to determine if the ball was caught in flight. Once that determination has been made, the priority shifts to any active runners. In the given scenario the PU would come out from behind the plate, determine the ball was not caught and watch the runner touch the bases and clear of obstruction. In between the bases when s/he is sure the runner is in the clear, the PU can pick-up the progress of the ball.
There are some umpires which take the "to have a play, you must have the ball" theory a bit too far. I've seen umpires stand in front of HP and follow the ball all over the field and never, NEVER have a clue as to whether the runner touched a base or was obstructed. Even with the ball, you cannot put a runner out without having the runner involved in the play. With a single runner, there is no reason not to track the runner. Knowing where the ball is at any given time is not as important as where that runner is. Follow your positioning mechanics and you will most likely always have at least a periferal (sp) awareness of the ball. There is a much better chance of something going wrong which the umpire needs to observe involving runners than a ball being thrown around the outfield.
Veteran umpires develop a sense of where to be and look at any given moment during a play.
Sorry for the confusion.