obs mechanic

[Rich]

Originally Posted by bbman

I was curious as to the steps/procedures an umpire should take for an obstruction call.
Here is a made up situation. Runner on second, single to outfield, third baseman standing on the bag. Runner contact.
Make this regular/real baseball. (Not HS)

What is the signal? Right fist out to side or both hands up?

Is it a verbal signal or silent? I have been with umps who do either?

Assuming play continues, as it should, and runner is thrown out, do you call him out and then call time? Award the base?

Or, do you call him safe no matter what due to the obstruction?

My thought is that it is silent, right fist out, call him out, call time, award base(s)

In every level of baseball, including HS, you point at the infraction and call out "that's obstruction." Then the hand comes down and you go back to umpiring.

The fist out is a softball mechanic, but also includes a verbal "that's obstruction" as acknowledgment of the infraction.

If he's thrown out at the plate, you call time immediately and enforce the obstruction -- that includes the other runners who will be awarded the bases they would've received absent the obstruction.