out of baseline??

[bigredmachine]

Originally Posted by JJ

Hmmm..."the catcher runs up the line...the runner runs to the right of the catcher...after the runner has passed the catcher the catcher catches the ball...I also told the coach that I could have called obstruction on the catcher..."

I guess we'd all like to know what code you playing under. We'd also like to know why you DIDN'T call obstruction - from your description the catcher did not have the ball when the runner passed him, and being called out for being out of the baseline involves trying to avoid a tag, which is not possible if the catcher is not in possession of the ball trying to tag him. This is an easy call for me. "That's Obstruction!". Could have even been a no-call. When the coach comes out, I tell him just what I just told you - for me to call him out for being out of the baseline, he has to be trying to avoid a tag, and if the fielder involved didn't even have the ball then there WAS no tag attempt. Oh, and coach, if the fielder doesn't have the ball, he can't be in the runner's way - that's obstruction.

I was in the field, my plate ump simply told him he was trying to avoid collision. I gave the coach both scenarios, obstruction, and the fact that he was not out of baseline because he was avoiding a collision.

thanks.