Playing devils advocate here...

"Obstruction is an act (intentional or otherwise, as well as physical or verbal) by a fielder, any member of the defensive team or its team personnel that hinders a runner or changes a pattern of play..."

Your casebook play illustrates an example of verbal obstruction. Take that exact same play, but take out the "Get back, get back!" Is the act of throwing the baseball like a pop-up, on it's own, an "intentional physical act by a fielder that hinders the runner or changes a pattern of play"? And if so, are you calling obstruction on a catcher that does this?

I'd say "no" to both. I'd treat the "thrown pop-up" as more like the Miami play, which is legal.

What about the runner who is at first and begins to LOUDLY clap his hands in effort to "bug" the pitcher?

"Knock it off"

What have you got? Bush League play. And you would think a 40-yr-old should know better.

It's certainly not verbal interference since there is no such thing under OBR.

OBR ... 40-yr-olds ... this type of behavior usually gets "fixed" on the next pitch to that batter. He'll "get it", all right.

David Emerling
Memphis, TN

[Edited by David Emerling on Feb 12th, 2005 at 01:33 AM]

David: In the OBR there is no verbal obstruction, but there is verbal interference. (2.00 Interference a) Wendelstedt wrote about a major league batter yelling at a fielder, causing him to drop a foul pop up. "He's out!" Harry said.

The play doesn't appear in the BRD because all three codes penalize verbal interference. See Section 298.

That's true, now that you mention it.

It can easily be construed as "hindering" a fielder.

I would think that the standard for FED "verbal interference" would differ substantially, however. Wouldn't you?

Although I've never read any discussion of there being any difference. But then again, HOW COULD THERE BE? It's not in the BRD! [g]

That means there can be no difference, <i>by definition!</i>

David Emerling
Memphis, TN