Obstruction Call Mets/Phillies

[njdevs00cup]

Anyone catch this run down obstruction call? It looks like Victorino establishes his baseline and veers to his right to throw a shoulder into Reyes.

[johnnyg08]

Yep, just saw it on Sportscenter 2 minutes ago. Yes, from that angle, I certainly don't have obstruction...I had to watch it w/o the volume because the Sportscenter people seemed to have reversed the terminology...the Mets coach also "beaked' the umpire too...the ump kept the bill of his hat below his.

Yep, looking at that call, I think I have an out for INT rather than awarding 2B for OBS...tough to say I guess

[Welpe]

I don't think you can have INT on this, Reyes wasn't trying to make a play on Victorino, he was trying to get out of the way after throwing the ball.

[zm1283]

That was definitely not obstruction. They kicked it. It wasn't interference either though.

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by zm1283

That was definitely not obstruction. They kicked it. It wasn't interference either though.

Maybe we should set a standard Operating Proceedure.

If you make a post that disagrees with MLB, how about posting a link so the rest of us can check it out!

We really want to see how good you are!

[FredFan7]

Baseball Video Highlights & Clips | PHI@NYM: An obstruction call gets Manuel ejected - Video | MLB.com: Multimedia

[johnnyg08]

try this

Baseball Video Highlights & Clips | PHI@NYM: An obstruction call gets Manuel ejected - Video | MLB.com: Multimedia

[johnnyg08]

how's that Ozzy? you've got links coming out your ears now

[mbyron]

Players are coached to do this during a rundown: bump into the fielder after he's thrown the ball in order to draw the obstruction call. It worked in this case.

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

From an umpiring standpoint, I always want to end a rundown as quickly as possible. Rundowns are bad baseball and add nothing to the game. If the runner takes 2 steps sideways, he's out of the baseline and out. If there's contact with the fielder, obstruction (unfortunately, in FED we play on from that point since all OBS is "Type B"). If the runner does anything with his hands to touch or otherwise impede the fielder, INT. Move on.

[JPaco54]

[QUOTE=mbyron;600584]From an umpiring standpoint, I always want to end a rundown as quickly as possible. Rundowns are bad baseball and add nothing to the game.

Could you explain your thoughts on Rundowns, being bad baseball and add nothing to the game. I never looked at it that way. I just see it as another "Situation" in baseball. Sometimes it can force certain actions where a team can take advantage of advancing bases or scoring runs. Am I misisng something.

[dash_riprock]

I have nothing on that play (except a DP).

[umpjong]

Obstruction... His path was impeded. Yes he exaggerated it, but it was impeded.
Good call..... (cant not call it just because he made it look worse than it was)

[UmpTTS43]

MLB is it's own critter in situations such as these. The bigboys play by different rules, we all know it. In amatuer ball, there is possibly OBS and possibly flagrant contact. Use the example to learn what you would do or rule do in that situation

[johnnyg08]

Originally Posted by UmpTTS43

MLB is it's own critter in situations such as these. The bigboys play by different rules, we all know it. In amatuer ball, there is possibly OBS and possibly flagrant contact. Use the example to learn what you would do or rule do in that situation

amen

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by umpjong

Obstruction... His path was impeded. Yes he exaggerated it, but it was impeded.
Good call..... (cant not call it just because he made it look worse than it was)

If you made that call, and I was your partner, I would have no problem backing you up on it. Yes, you can't not call it JUST because he made it look worse, but contact is not automatic OBS either. My judgment would be it's nothing, because the runner had a clear path directly to 2nd base, i.e., he was not obstructed, but instead of taking that path, he chose to run into the fielder. In other words, he was obstructed by his own act, not the fielder's.