NCAA and now FED Obstruction

[JJ]

In NCAA it is considered obstruction if you block a basepath without the ball and impede the runner. The same is now true in FED. Here's the play for you to rule on:

B1 hits a ground ball to F5. He fields it and throws wildly to the home plate side of first base. F3 jumps for the ball - which goes over his glove - into the path of B1 and they collide. Obstruction? Live ball or dead ball? What about other runners (if any)?

JJ

[johnSandlin]

I am going to pass on calling obstruction because the catcher got pulled because of the bad throw.

You can't punish the catcher for a bad throw.

I say live ball and play on.

[UmpLarryJohnson]

Originally Posted by JJ

The same is now true in FED.

seriously?? is this a change for '08??

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by UmpLarryJohnson

seriously?? is this a change for '08??

Yes. Try to keep up. The changes (or at least a press release about them) are on the NFHS web-site.

I'd just have a train wreck in NCAA. I'd like to rule the same way in FED, but according to RefMag (and I know they aren't official, and there are often errors in each issue), it's obstruction under the new FED rule.

[MD Longhorn]

This is obstruction.

[UmpLarryJohnson]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

This is obstruction.

well now i guess it is

[ozzy6900]

Viewing the new FED rule "as written", this would be obstruction. However, I want to see some official case book interpretations on this type of play.

Regards

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

I'd just have a train wreck in NCAA. I'd like to rule the same way in FED, but according to RefMag (and I know they aren't official, and there are often errors in each issue), it's obstruction under the new FED rule.

Assuming the overthrow remains in play, what's your award?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Assuming the overthrow remains in play, what's your award?

And assuming RefMag was correct, it depends on what happens next, but at least one base -- just like all FED obstruction. Since this happened before BR reached first, the "minimum award" is first.

[ggk]

is a FED source cited in Ref Mag?? is this the official interp? if so, this is ridiculous.

this should be a no call - trainwreck

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

And assuming RefMag was correct, it depends on what happens next, but at least one base -- just like all FED obstruction. Since this happened before BR reached first, the "minimum award" is first.

Good, that's what I was thinking, too.

[Interested Ump]

Originally Posted by JJ

In NCAA it is considered obstruction if you block a basepath without the ball and impede the runner. The same is now true in FED. Here's the play for you to rule on:

B1 hits a ground ball to F5. He fields it and throws wildly to the home plate side of first base. F3 jumps for the ball - which goes over his glove - into the path of B1 and they collide. Obstruction? Live ball or dead ball? What about other runners (if any)?

JJ

Did F3 have the ball? No
Did he block the basepath? Yes
OBS.

FED - live ball
Other Rs, advance at will.
Award 2B? Probably

[David Emerling]

Originally Posted by JJ

In NCAA it is considered obstruction if you block a basepath without the ball and impede the runner. The same is now true in FED. Here's the play for you to rule on:

B1 hits a ground ball to F5. He fields it and throws wildly to the home plate side of first base. F3 jumps for the ball - which goes over his glove - into the path of B1 and they collide. Obstruction? Live ball or dead ball? What about other runners (if any)?

JJ

I'm sure your point in asking this question is that, before the new rule, we simply ignored plays like these - there was a collective shrug of the shoulders by everyone - and all were resigned that "train wrecks sometimes happen." Play on.

By the definition of the more stringent obstruction rule, there can be no question that the play you describe is obstruction. Yet, if you think about it, there substantively will be no change to the way we handle it.

Under FED, obstruction always caused the ball to remain live. So that wouldn't change.

And we would now award the batter-runner 1st base - but that's actually a fairly academic point considering the ball has just sailed over F3's head.

Substantively, nothing will change in the play you describe other than the fact that the umpire is going to say, "That's obstruction." Everybody will continue to do what they always do and the fact that there was obstruction on the play will not have changed a thing.

David Emerling
Memphis, TN

[SAump]

As written fielders without the ball are guilty of obstruction in a collision.
How many times has a runner made contact, failed to slide, or go around a fielder holding onto the ball at first base?
Will runners be guilty of interference for crashing into a fielder who caught the ball before the collision?

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by SAump

Will runners be guilty of interference for crashing into a fielder who caught the ball before the collision?

How has such a runner interfered if the fielder has the ball?