BR Obstruction

[JJ]

In the case presented, the batter is out (even though he was obstructed) because the fly ball was caught. My question is, are there specific rule or case book references in any or all of the codes dealing with this play? It could be interesting trying to justify the out call to a FED coach who may not be up on the nuances of the game. Thanks.

JJ

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by JJ

In the case presented, the batter is out (even though he was obstructed) because the fly ball was caught. My question is, are there specific rule or case book references in any or all of the codes dealing with this play? It could be interesting trying to justify the out call to a FED coach who may not be up on the nuances of the game. Thanks.

JJ

You're thinking too much. The flyball was caught. F3's obstruction had nothing to do with the out. B/R is out on the caught fly ball.

Really simple. Where is the nuance?

[LMan]

There's nothing to 'justify', JJ. He's out on the catch, OBS had no effect. Since you mention FED, the rules (as in Type B), "award bases the runner would have reached had there been no obstruction."

That makes it simple. Would the B/R have reached base on a caught fly ball absent the obstruction?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by LMan

There's nothing to 'justify', JJ. He's out on the catch, OBS had no effect. Since you mention FED, the rules (as in Type B), "award bases the runner would have reached had there been no obstruction."

FED rules also award the runner a minimum of one base, theus JJ's question.

I think there was an interp in the past couple of years that clarified that the BR would be out, and not awarded first on the play. Before that, an overly-strict reading of the rules would have awarded first. I don't think anyone ever did this, though.

[greymule]

a FED coach who may not be up on the nuances of the game

You're speaking purely theoretically, of course.

The J/R says to ignore OBS that has no bearing on the play, even on a ground ball. They give this example: Abel on 1B, Baker hits a hard one-hopper to F6 near 2B. Just before F6 steps on 2B, Abel trips over F3, 75 feet from 2B. F6 then steps on 2B and completes the double play. J/R says no OBS.

For umpires accustomed to doing baseball, softball can be confusing. In ASA, for example, the above-mentioned OBS would be enforced. (On a caught fly ball, however, the OBS is ignored.) In a similar vein, if with Abel on 1B, Baker hits a long, high fly down the LF line and passes Abel before the ball lands foul, Baker is out. Not so in OBR.