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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">Originally Posted by TwoBits
The current softball FED rule considers denying a base without possession of the ball as obstruction, so my comments are assuming (yes, I know, assume) that this will be the model for FED baseball as well. In FED softball, their are no more train wrecks. You either have: a) Fielder has ball, runner contacts fielder for a tag out, interference, and/or malicious contact. b) Fielder does not have ball, runner contacts fielder (unintenionally), obstruction on the fielder. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> Quote:
I Googled around for discussions about these plays which fall between the cracks and for plays where it is impossible to tell if a person is safe or out. The one I found that I liked the most, and intend to adopt, is the concept of rewarding the better play. In this case, the better play is R advancing since we have F with an error. Since the rule only has two options, and I now have decided to make the interp favor R, then we have OBS. |
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But if this new rule is going to be interpretted as the NCAA rule is, then I really should rescind the title of this thread. |
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That seems reasonable on a play where the runner is advancing (1 base award will put him where he would have been under the old rule) but unfair where the runner is returning (pick off at 2nd, F6 loses the ball on the tag, runner gets 3rd). |
I think the only time the NF tries to mirror other sports are in safety concerns. This is an NCAA rule or interpretation coming down to the NF. This has nothing to do with softball other than the fact that both sports are hybrids of each other.
Peace |
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there are STILL train wrecks with THIS rule. Thats MY opinion |
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If the fielder sets up in the runners basepath prior to the throw in order to field the ball to that spot I have obstruction if the runner's progress is impeded in any way. But as has already been said, if the fielder is pulled into the runners basepath as he attempts to field an errant throw I have a trainwreck. Tim. |
A throw that takes the fielder into the runner is NOT obstruction in NCAA BASEBALL or LL BASEBALL.
Or NCAA or Babe Ruth softball. (Don't know about LL.) Not all that long ago, it wasn't OBS in ASA softball. I understand the interest in safety in ASA and Fed youth softball, but with this "either-or" stuff, they have created a very difficult situation for umpires. In the uncountable baseball and softball games I played, OBS was purely a theoretical matter; it simply never happened in real life. Now it occurs seemingly in every game, and coaches want OBS called every time there's a tag play at a base. |
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Claiming that the runner had some other, unblocked route to the base is no grounds for disputing an OBS call. |
MB has it nailed, IMHO. Anytime a runner is impeded by a fielder without the ball you have obstruction. No matter how much, or how little base is available to that runner, he decides his path to that base.
As far as this rule taking FED baseball closer to softball, I disagree. Thankfully, baseball has a long ways to go before it even begins to look like softball. |
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