obs on throwback

[smoump]

ball was not even in cutout. I awarded third. It would of been wrong of me to call runner out, he never had an opportunity to reach the base.

[lawump]

On a play at the plate involving the catcher blocking the plate without the ball, I was taught at umpire school (OBR) that this was legal if the thrown ball was 60-feet (pitcher's mound) or closer to the catcher. That is, that the catcher is in the "act of fielding the (thrown) ball" when that ball is no further than that distance. An equivalent distance would be used for throws on the bases.

Based on the language posted by BigUmp56, I have used this same interpretation in my American Legion games since leaving pro ball. The one time a coach came out to argue for a call of "obstruction", I gave him this interpretation. While he did not feel that the ball in flight was at the pitcher's mound or closer, he did not argue with my rules interpretation at all (only that the ball was not that close). I know that's not saying much...I mean he was a coach. His argument that the ball was not that close, however, was not that animated and it appeared to me that my interpretation as explained to him took a lot of "wind out of his sails".

[BigUmp56]

I was taught to ask myself two questions when determining whether or not the fielder was in the immediate act of fielding the ball.

* Did he have to go there to field the throw?

* Did he set up illegally in the basepath to field the throw to that spot?


It's worked for me over the years.


Tim.

[Paul L]

I understand awarding second on obstruction, but why third? Would BU not have to judge that the runner would have made it to third without the obstruction?

[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by Paul L

I understand awarding second on obstruction, but why third? Would BU not have to judge that the runner would have made it to third without the obstruction?

Paul:

In the original post it was a pick off attempt on R2. If he judged this as obstruction it would be type A and the award would be at least one base beyond the last legally occupied base.



Tim.

[DG]

I'm sure I read somewhere that on a play at the plate the general rule of thumb is that if the ball is in flight over the cutout then a play is imminent. The cutout is about 13 feet in diameter. 60 feet away is not close enough.

I suppose you could use this same rule of thumb at 2B, or any other base, if working with a rule set that does not require the fielder to have the ball to block the base.

There are no state modified Legion rules I am aware of in my state. I'm not sure I understand why any state would modify the national rules for play at that level.