verbal obstruction

[PeteBooth]

Originally posted by Umpire_Jeremy

Can you give me rule reference for OBR?

There is no such animal as Verbal Obtsruction in OBR. It only exists in FED.

From Carl Childress's 2002 BRD page 175 Play 141-332

R1,R3: F1 pauses in the set position. From the defensive first-base dugout, someone yells "BACK" R1 reacts by diving towards first. As r1 scrambles back, F1 throws wildly toward third, with the ball ricocheting off the fence and heading for the bullpen. As F5 and F7 chase the ball, R3 scores. Meanwhile, R1 gets up and advances around second base but is thrown out on a close play at third with F6 covering..

RULING:
In FED, r1 was "verbally" obstructed. The obstruction clearly made the difference in the play at third so the out is cancelled, with r1 remaining on third.

In NCAA / OBR, R1 was simply gullable: He should know the difference between his coach's voice and voices of the defense. His out stands.

Now in FED, if the runner had been out a long way at third, then the umpire should rule that the runner tried to advance beyond a base he would have received on the obstruction, which in this play is second.

Pete Booth