Ever call this?

[LLPA13UmpDan]

Heres one for discussion- OBS on the catcher. Ever Call it? I see it happen so much. Runner coming around third and catcher "blocking" the plate so the runner cannot get to the plate. This is totally illeagal. It's almost never called, however they are beginning to teach this to us more often. Runner should be safe at home on OBS by the catcher. MLB ive never seen it called, although it happens every game almost, where the catcher would stand right in the way of the runner. Do you ever or have you ever called this?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by LLPA13UmpDan

Heres one for discussion- OBS on the catcher. Ever Call it? I see it happen so much. Runner coming around third and catcher "blocking" the plate so the runner cannot get to the plate. This is totally illeagal. It's almost never called, however they are beginning to teach this to us more often. Runner should be safe at home on OBS by the catcher. MLB ive never seen it called, although it happens every game almost, where the catcher would stand right in the way of the runner. Do you ever or have you ever called this?

I've called it when it's happened. What you've described is not sufficient to rule obstruction. Remember, too, that the rule is different in different levels.

[Dave Hensley]

Originally Posted by LLPA13UmpDan

Heres one for discussion- OBS on the catcher. Ever Call it? I see it happen so much. Runner coming around third and catcher "blocking" the plate so the runner cannot get to the plate. This is totally illeagal. It's almost never called, however they are beginning to teach this to us more often. Runner should be safe at home on OBS by the catcher. MLB ive never seen it called, although it happens every game almost, where the catcher would stand right in the way of the runner. Do you ever or have you ever called this?

When the runner is "coming around third" he is still 60-90 feet away from the plate. If the catcher is "blocking" the plate at this point, you have nothing, nada, zilch to call.

Obstruction doesn't happen until obstruction happens. That means, you don't have a call until a runner's progress is ACTUALLY impeded by a fielder who does NOT have possession of the baseball.

Based on the wording you used, you're not seeing infractions happen all the time that don't get called; you're seeing something happen that you think is an infraction, that isn't.

[Clint Lawson]

In OBR the catcher can block the plate without the ball if he is about to make a play on the ball. It is call directly to and near enough to the fielder. It is under rule 2.00 obsturtion.

Clint Lawson

[SanDiegoSteve]

And even then, it's a judgment call as to whether the fielder has the right to occupy the space or not.

Little League is quite different. If the catcher is blocking the plate without the ball and the runner hindered, it is obstruction whether or not the catcher is about to make a play on the ball. He must have the ball at the time of hindrence.

[SanDiegoSteve]

And Dan,

The reason you never see Obstruction called on big league catchers, is that there is no such thing as "malicious contact," and the base runner can just knock the catcher into next week. It sort of takes care of itself. At lower levels, the runner cannot just plow into the catcher to get to the plate.

[LLPA13UmpDan]

Yeah thats what i was talking about, i dont mean when the runner is coming around third, i meant when the runner is about to score but cant b/c of the catcher

[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

And even then, it's a judgment call as to whether the fielder has the right to occupy the space or not.

Little League is quite different. If the catcher is blocking the plate without the ball and the runner hindered, it is obstruction whether or not the catcher is about to make a play on the ball. He must have the ball at the time of hindrence.

I wish that LL would give us a single interpretation that said that, Steve, but they cloud the issue when discussing in the RIM the fielders rights to field an errant throw.


Tim.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

I wish that LL would give us a single interpretation that said that, Steve, but they cloud the issue when discussing in the RIM the fielders rights to field an errant throw.


Tim.

Fielders always have the right to field errant throws, and I believe the LL obstruction rule just keeps the catcher from parking in front of the plate with nothing more in mind than blocking off the runner.

Good judgment should always be used in ruling obstruction, no matter which code is being used.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by LLPA13UmpDan

Heres one for discussion- OBS on the catcher. Ever Call it? I see it happen so much.

Seldom see it. Maybe once a year.

Runner coming around third and catcher "blocking" the plate so the runner cannot get to the plate. This is totally illeagal.

Uh, no it's not, at leaset not what you described.

It's almost never called,

Thank goodness.

however they are beginning to teach this to us more often.

Could you give me an estimate of how many times "they've" taught you this?

Runner should be safe at home on OBS by the catcher.

Of course...when the runner is actually obstructed.

MLB ive never seen it called, although it happens every game almost,

YGBSM. Almost EVERY game?

[kylejt]

I think I called obstruction on catchers two or three times this year.