Mechanic on Obstruction

[bossman72]

Originally Posted by RPatrino

Bossman, your statement, "When the runner is tagged out, keep the DDB sign up, point and say "safe on obstruction" and keep the ball alive" needs some clarification, at least for me. The mechanic is different depending on if you are the one making the "out or safe" call on the obstructed runner. Can I assume that in your situation YOU are the one who has the call involving the obstructed runner?

You assumed correctly, this would be the BU making the OBS call and the call on the play being made on the obstructed runner. DDB signal when it happens (I probably wouldn't keep it up the whole time running around with it), then point and just say "safe on obsruction" and then call time and make the award when action is relaxed.

This was the interp I got when I asked what the mechanic is for this a LONG time ago on this board. I will ask my state interpreter in a few weeks.

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by Tim C

"You must work in ball parks that have a silence rule. If anything is crucial, it is the dead ball signal."

I am currently working my 40th NFHS season . . . blah, blah, blah . . . and over 4,000 games . . . blah, blah, blah. . .

AND NOT ONCE have I ever seen an umpire give the NFHS "Delayed Dead Ball" signal. We teach to point, comment, and move on to the remainder of the play.

Regards,

The fourth and fifth hole hitters on one team batted in reverse order in the game. Too bad the defense waited until they had thrown two pitches before they realized what had happened. There was almost a first time for that ruling.

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by Tim C

"You must work in ball parks that have a silence rule. If anything is crucial, it is the dead ball signal."

I am currently working my 40th NFHS season . . . blah, blah, blah . . . and over 4,000 games . . . blah, blah, blah. . .

AND NOT ONCE have I ever seen an umpire give the NFHS "Delayed Dead Ball" signal. We teach to point, comment, and move on to the remainder of the play.

Then you and your org learned somehting today, make sure you put it in soon before knowleadgeable coaches start eating your ballbags.

[njdevs00cup]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

Since all obstruction on runners in FED is delayed dead, what is the proper mechanic to use when the obstruction is on the runner a play is being made on? I had an unusual obstruction in a game Friday night where one player obstructed and another player made the swipe tag at the plate. Everything was bang bang. I signaled safe and gave the obstruction signal. I verbalized, "Safe! Runner is safe on the obstruction! Safe!"

Did I do it backwards or was my method acceptable? Is there a better method to use? This has never come up in one of our meetings that I can remember.

Please help me understand this situation. When the obstructing player made the swipe tag, was the runner out or safe (without the obstruction)?

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by njdevs00cup

Please help me understand this situation. When the obstructing player made the swipe tag, was the runner out or safe (without the obstruction)?

Play: Runner was coming home. He had to do so with a head first slide. Catcher was in runner's base path. Pitcher was inside of the base line. Runner was forced to go inside to avoid collision with catcher. Pitcher caught the throw that came in on one bounce and made a smooth little nip of a swipe tag. Runner was denied full base path to avoid tag when forced to avoid catcher not being where he was supposed to be. Both fielders were up the line from home plate.

In this situation, obstructing player did not make the swipe tag. He obstructed runner's base path

[johnnyg08]

but was he in position to make a play on the ball? I'd like to see a video of this...but as you describe, I don't see OBS here.

[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

Play: Runner was coming home. He had to do so with a head first slide. Catcher was in runner's base path. Pitcher was inside of the base line. Runner was forced to go inside to avoid collision with catcher. Pitcher caught the throw that came in on one bounce and made a smooth little nip of a swipe tag. Runner was denied full base path to avoid tag when forced to avoid catcher not being where he was supposed to be. Both fielders were up the line from home plate.

In this situation, obstructing player did not make the swipe tag. He obstructed runner's base path

You made a good call here. I know you work FED games and this is how it's to be called now in high school games that use FED rules. No more "imminent" in the rule.

Tim.

[johnnyg08]

We haven't had our FED meeting yet...but wow, this is going to make it a very interesting season. I expect my ratings to go down quite a bit if the interpretation of this FED rule is what all of you are saying...wow.

[bossman72]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

We haven't had our FED meeting yet...but wow, this is going to make it a very interesting season. I expect my ratings to go down quite a bit if the interpretation of this FED rule is what all of you are saying...wow.

If you do NCAA games, the obstruction rule is essentially the same.

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler
Play: Runner was coming home. He had to do so with a head first slide. Catcher was in runner's base path. Pitcher was inside of the base line. Runner was forced to go inside to avoid collision with catcher. Pitcher caught the throw that came in on one bounce and made a smooth little nip of a swipe tag. Runner was denied full base path to avoid tag when forced to avoid catcher not being where he was supposed to be. Both fielders were up the line from home plate.

In this situation, obstructing player did not make the swipe tag. He obstructed runner's base path

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

You made a good call here. I know you work FED games and this is how it's to be called now in high school games that use FED rules. No more "imminent" in the rule.
Tim.

Have to agree Tim, nice catch. There are distinct advantages from off the field sight lines and pressurless review.

[johnnyg08]

Originally Posted by Chris_Hickman

I thought that when you saw obstruction, you throw a red flag??? Oh well... I wonder if Honigs will let me return my slightly used red flag. Maybe I can get a store credit or something?

try +POS

[MichaelVA2000]

Originally Posted by Chris_Hickman

Oh well... I wonder if Honigs will let me return my slightly used red flag. Maybe I can get a store credit or something?

Many a bullfight could use your red flag....think EBay.