obstruction

[Gre144]

With a man on first, B1 hits it to the outfield. As R2 heads towards third he is obstructed by F6. R2 attempts to score and gets thrown out on a banger. Could you allow the run to score because of the obstruction by F6? I think the answer is umpires judgement but how is an umpire to determine if the runner would have scored if there would not have been an obstruction?

Greg

[Carl Childress]

Originally posted by Gre144
With a man on first, B1 hits it to the outfield. As R2 heads towards third he is obstructed by F6. R2 attempts to score and gets thrown out on a banger. Could you allow the run to score because of the obstruction by F6? I think the answer is umpires judgement but how is an umpire to determine if the runner would have scored if there would not have been an obstruction?

Greg

Greg:

Your play is one I have used for years to demonstrate obstruction. Here's a step-by-step explanation of what the umpire should do:

1. At the moment of obstruction, point to the infraction and yell, "That's obstruction!" Your goal is for all action to stop, for that makes you job easy.
2. You say to yourself, "R1 has third."
3. R1 continues to advance. You say to yourself: "I may protect him to the plate. He may have gone a base too far."
4. He is out a mile: a base too far. He is out on a banger, as in your/my play. Even Smitty can figure out that the hindrance between third and second affected the outcome. Score the run.

You won't even have to eject the assistant coach.