Obstruction?

[gslefeb]

R2 was not trying to score as the ball was at home plate and he took only a couple of steps around the base.

[David B]

Originally Posted by gslefeb

R2 was not trying to score as the ball was at home plate and he took only a couple of steps around the base.

that's just incidental contact. He has to be attempting to advance for obstruction to occur.

Thanks
David

[Rich Ives]

It's still obstruction - it's just type b and you don't award home.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

It's still obstruction - it's just type b and you don't award home.

To further clarify, you award R2 3rd base on the obstruction, because that is the base he was going back to, not trying to score.

[waltjp]

I'd be careful with the way you're stating it, Steve. The runner may still be advancing, i.e. - moving forward after rounding third base with no real intent of trying to score at the time of the obstruction.

Type B, runner to third. Someone is bound to read your statement and say that the runner would be awarded third base because he was moving toward third, or home because he was moving in that direction.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

It's still obstruction - it's just type b and you don't award home.

I disagree. Not all contact is obstruciton (or interference). Only if it hinders the pattern of play (or words to that effect depending on the rules set).

As I envision the play in my mind's eye, it's nothing. (But, I would remind F5 to stay out of the way.)

[GA Umpire]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

I disagree. Not all contact is obstruciton (or interference). Only if it hinders the pattern of play (or words to that effect depending on the rules set).

As I envision the play in my mind's eye, it's nothing. (But, I would remind F5 to stay out of the way.)

Bob,
I'd agree with this for Fed rules. Simply b/c in Fed, if OBS is called, the runner is awarded the next base.

In OBR, I disagree and I think Kyle got it. I still call OBS b/c of the contact. It is not incidental b/c F5 had no business being there. And, in OBR, base awards(whether it be advancing or returning) are given if any apply. As in Kyle's ex., the runner is thrown out by a mile. So, even though OBS would be called, the runner is still out at HP.

So, in the OP, I still have OBS but no awards are given if not playing under Fed or any rule set which automatically awards at least 1 base on OBS.

[Bishopcolle]

GA Umpire says: "So, in the OP, I still have OBS but no awards are given if not playing under Fed or any rule set which automatically awards at least 1 base on OBS."

If F1 blocks the bag on a pickoff play at 1st, without the ball, and OBS is called, is the runner only protected back to 1st, or is he awarded 2nd on the OBS?

[UmpJM]

Bishopcolle,

Whether NFHS, NCAA, or OBR if a runner is obstructed while the defense is "making a play" on him, he is awarded one base beyond his position at the time he was obstructed.

What actually constitutes obstruction varies somewhat from one code to another.

JM

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

I disagree. Not all contact is obstruciton (or interference). Only if it hinders the pattern of play (or words to that effect depending on the rules set).

As I envision the play in my mind's eye, it's nothing. (But, I would remind F5 to stay out of the way.)

Disagree. A runner rounding third is looking to advance if possible.