HS Fed - Catcher Obstruction question

[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by DG

Your JEA reference does not match your objection. The catcher had not interfered with the batter's swing so it's not called, no penalty. It's only called if he interferes with an attempt.

I realize that it's mentioned as not specifically being penalized but I believe that it is still interference only with a different penalty. The ruling elludes that the defense will lose a strike if the batter chooses to swing and subsequently misses the ball should the pitch be delivered. To me that is a penalty.


Tim.

[CLBuffalo]

What exactly are JEA and J/R?

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by CLBuffalo

What exactly are JEA and J/R?

They are rule references from Jim Evans (JEA) and the J/R is by Chris Jaska and Rick Roder. Both of these manuals are interesting interpretations but not the ruling authority of MLB (although some people think that they are the last word in baseball rules). They both do carry a lot of weight in decisions made but in actuality, the ORB rule book, MLBUM and PBUC manuals are used in most decisions in MLB, MiLB and leagues using ORB (although the MLBUM is only available to MLB umpires).

I am not discounting the JEA and J/R by any means but I do not hold them to be the final say in any matter. If I need a ruling, I go to ORB and PBUC and I am finished. There are too many "gray areas" in both that lead to constant arguments (as you will see in the posts following).

[DG]

But, MLBUM and PBUC do not cover near the number of issues topics that JEA and J/R do. JEA is not readily available, it has been out of print for some time. MLBUM is only available to ML umpires, or if you know one. J/R and PBUC can be purchased any time. PBUC and MLBUM are nearly identical if not exactly identical in rulings. So if you want to get good interpretations books get PBUC and J/R and then get Carl's Baseball Rules Difference (BRD) to get differences between OBR, NCAA and FED.