Obstruction

Rich Ives · #1 (**permalink**) Thu Jan 05, 2006, 11:52am

Quote:

Originally posted by ozzy6900

Quote:

Originally posted by BigUmp56
Ozzy:

In order to judge that this is type "A" obstruction the ball would have needed to be in flight to second base either before or at the time of the obstruction. R1 was obstructed before F1 had possession of the ball.

Tim.

Really? I never realzed that there was a time line for calling Type A. R1 is forced to 2nd in this play - he got obstructed - the defense made a play on him. Type A.

Tim may have a point. (Bolding added)

MLBUM 5.1:

A play or attempted play is interpreted as a legitimate effort by a defensive player who has possession of the ball to actually retire a runner. This may include an actual attempt to tag a runner, a fielder running toward a base with the ball in an attempt to force or tag a runner, or actually throwing to another defensive player in an attempt to retire a runner. (The fact that the runner is not out is not relevant.) A fake or a feint to throw shall not be deemed a play or an attempted play.

MLBUM 6.21:

The first type of obstruction (Official Baseball Rule 7.06(a)) deals with cases when the runner is obstructed WHILE a play is being made on him. Examples of this type of obstruction include:

(1) Runner is obstructed during a rundown.

(2) Runner is obstructed as a fielder is making a direct throw to a base in an attempt to retire that runner.

(3) Batter-runner is obstructed before reaching first base on a ground ball to an infielder.

(4) Any other example where a play is being made directly on the runner at the moment he is obstructed.

As the ball was not yet fielded. let alone thrown, until after the obstructon, none of the above conditions for type A were met. The fielder did not have possession at the time. No throw was being made at the time.

Therefore, it's type B