Verbal Obstruction ?

[Peruvian]

It is legal, (although discouraged here in my state) for the fielder to yell "Back! Back!". The only time it is enforced as verbal obstruction, is when the verbage causes the runner to go back into the base, like it did in the earlier case play..

[umpduck11]

Originally Posted by Peruvian

It is legal, (although discouraged here in my state) for the fielder to yell "Back! Back!". The only time it is enforced as verbal obstruction, is when the verbage causes the runner to go back into the base, like it did in the earlier case play..

Peruvian,
At the state camp this weekend, this very subject was discussed. The
directors and instructors were adamant that this is to be inforced. I found
it ironic that this discussion came up, after we dealt with it over the weekend.

[Peruvian]

Originally Posted by umpduck11

Peruvian,
At the state camp this weekend, this very subject was discussed. The
directors and instructors were adamant that this is to be inforced. I found
it ironic that this discussion came up, after we dealt with it over the weekend.

I know it was. But they also said you can't enforce it unless the verbage causes the runner to react.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Peruvian

I know it was. But they also said you can't enforce it unless the verbage causes the runner to react.

So all the runner has to do is pretend that the shortstop caused him to dive back into second base, and we have Verbal Obstruction. That's just great. Who's bright idea was that?

[begin rant]Jeez, the kids in LL can't say "Hey batter, swing!" anymore, fielders can't yell "back, back" and slap their gloves. We are raising a generation of panty-waist kids IMO. I hate to be one of those old farts I swore I'd never become, who talk about the "good old days," but c'mon! When I was a kid (yeah, I know, they didn't have automobiles then) there was no "must slide or avoid" crapola. We slid hard, took out catchers, and played rough and tumble country hardball. We yelled "hey batta batta, what's the matta batta, SWING batter!!!" Then we became teenagers and discovered girls .[end of rant]