Pitcher obstruction?
 

A pitcher puts out his foot to stop a ground ball from going up the middle. The ball deflects off foot towards first base line. Pitcher chases ball. When pitcher gets to ball, using a sitting slide, he is in the base line. The runner is forced to dive over him and doesn't reach base. Pitcher throws out runner while runner is still lying on ground.

Is this obstruction? Is the initial attempt to stop the ball with the foot considered a play at the ball, or is it all one continuous play?

Also, I cannot find any detail on this in rule book. Where might I find the rule on this?

Thanks,

John

John,

You mean something like this?

http://forum.officiating.com/basebal...icky-call.html

JM

JM, thanks for the link. That was a good thread to re-read.

If the defensive player is sitting in the baseline, the runner cannot jump over him, correct?
In that case the runner would be out for hurdling a defender who is not in the prone position.

cardinalfan,

That would ONLY be true under FED rules, and only if the runner went "over the top" of the fielder by his own volition - rather than the fielder "taking his legs out", for example.

JM

A PRONE position is not required.

SUPINE is allowed as well.

JM

John,

Did F1 have possession of the ball when the batter-runner dove over him? if so, no obstruction (fielder has ball). If F1 is still trying to gain possession then I would very possibly have obstruction, though it's HTBT.

Jim

jbarry,

I see no one has yet provided you with a rule reference. It's somewhat different in different codes.

From OBR :

From Fed:

And NCAA:

JM

Thanks for your replies and the youtube video. There is a lot of opinion out there. Thank you JM for the rules. At least its something to pin your hat on and make a decision.

I would have to say obstruction, based on the fact that the pitcher was chasing a deflected ball and looks like he did not have posession when the collision occured. Based on the above rules.

John

FED

8.4.2 SITUATION U: F4 is in the baseline without the ball (a) on both knees or (b) bending over. R1 hurdles, jumps, leaps or dives over F4. RULING: In (a) and (b), obstruction is ignored. If the runner hurdles, jumps or dives over the fielder, he shall be declared out. These illegal acts supersede obstruction.

walt,

So, in jbarry's original sitch, where the fielder is in a "sitting slide", how would you apply this case play if the fielder did NOT have posession of the ball and the runner...

a. jumped over the fielder's legs?

b. had his legs cut out from under him by the sitting/sliding fielder and ended up going "*** over teakettle" over said fielder's head?

JM

Speaking FED -

I'd have to see the situation you described in (a). If the pitcher was sliding and the runner stepped over an outstretched leg I'd probably have nothing. Now jumping/leaping/diving over the fielder's body is a different story.

In (b), if the fielder initiated contact by sliding into the runner I'd have obstruction.

HTBT

walt,

I'd definitely have obstruction in both.

JM

I thought about this after I signed off last night and I agree with you in (a). Obstruction should be the call, not 'nothing'.