Obstruction Call Mets/Phillies

[waltjp]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Bit of an acting job by Victorino if you ask me, but clearly there was contact.

Watching Victorino's reaction after being tagged out, it didn't appear that he was expecting the obstruction call.

[UmpJM]

I concur with dash.

There is a basic principle in baseball that a player cannot "go out of his way" to create a call.

For example, from 7.09(j) Comment, we have the language:

...“Obstruction” by a fielder attempting to field a ball should be called only in very flagrant and violent cases because the rules give him the right of way, but of course such “right of way” is not a license to, for example, intentionally trip a runner even though fielding the ball. ...

Similarly, from J/R, in the chapter on Obstruction, we have:

However, it is not obstruction if

...

2) a runner intentionally alters his course to contact a fielder who is not protected.

...

Ultimately, whether the runner did or did not "intentionally alter his course" is a matter of umpire judgement. From what I saw in the replays, were I the umpire, I would have judged that the runner had done so. Apparently, U1 saw it differently.

To Rich, I would say, the runner may choose his path, but I am not going to call Obstruction if he chooses a path to create contact with a fielder that is not a legitimate attempt to advance.

JM