coach told him to "block" the base‏

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by kheisner

In a close play at 3rd base team "A"s 3rd baseman put down his leg to block the sliding runner from team "B" as he took the throw.

Based on THIS, the above posters (and I) would have obstruction. You can't "block the sliding runner" AS you take the throw. As described (the first time), this is obstruction. 100% of the time.

Originally Posted by kheisner

As far as the obstruction ON THE ORIGINAL PLAY; situation was.....3rd baseman, ball in glove, leg going down, tag going down to runner, runner sliding into base....all at the same time. Runner probably would've been safe if the leg didn't block the base because he would've been under the tag. I've never seen this called obstruction. If a catcher makes this play at home, it is called a great play by the catcher. Why should it be different at any other base?

The deal here is that you've now changed the situation. The umpire has to judge one thing - did the fielder impede the progress of the runner without possession of the ball. In the original post, heck yes. In this, a little greyer. There's no "all at the same time". At some point - the runner was impeded. This point could have been the moment of contact... but it COULD have been earlier if the runner changed direction, slowed, etc. At THAT point, did the fielder have the ball. That simple.

And without piling on ... I too believe you kicked the handling of the MC (and just because you "lose" the contact because the runner was bigger than you does not mean you didn't create malicious contact.) He should have been gone. Don't be nice just because you feel bad for the kid or think it was not his fault. Regardless of level, time of year, experience, whatever.

[kheisner]

Thanks guys......I too now agree I should've ejected the "blocker". I'll know better next, no matter what....it was MC and he NEEDED to be ejected. I was very lucky nothing more happened. I shouldn't have let this player's stupidity make me deviate from the rules of play.

Yes, obstruction if leg is down before he gets the ball. I used to coach and my players were constantly guilty of these types obstruction at ALL bases......not once was it called. However they all quickly learned to quit it when they started playing with steel spikes......

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Based on THIS, the above posters (and I) would have obstruction. You can't "block the sliding runner" AS you take the throw. As described (the first time), this is obstruction. 100% of the time.

Not true in all codes: in OBR the fielder can block the base if a play is "imminent."

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Not true in all codes: in OBR the fielder can block the base if a play is "imminent."

Point taken.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Years ago, when I was coaching in a USSSA tournament, we played a team that employed this tactic. One of our DH/P/C guys (a beast!) was the kind of guy you'd play at fullback if you saw the way he ran as an oversized kid (6'0''/220 at 14). He was chugging toward third on a pitch that bounced, and when he arrived at the bag, he gave a late, hard, but clean slide that sent F5 flying, with his glove, hat and sunglasses flying in different directions. The F5, perhaps 150 pounds, wound up 15 feet from the bag when he was done rolling. He couldn't continue.

Now I didn't urge anybody to do this, but when I asked the kid why he separated him like that, he just replied that he saw the guy blocking the bag and he wanted to make sure he reached the bag despite his blocking it.

The point is: Coaches who teach their infielders to block the bag with their leg should be the ones that get separated. It is absolutely one of the most dangerous practices one can employ on a baseball field, and everyone who teaches it--irrespective of the level of play--should not be around developing ballplayers.

These kinds of coaches are the reason that America is losing its grip on the sport that we invented. The percentage of American-born ballplayers in the professional ranks is dropping every year. It can't afford to have bucket-carrying fanboys posing as baseball coaches feeding this buIIsh!t to our young players. Even many high school coaches fit this profile. But nearly all youth coaches do.

Some players actually deserve to play effective baseball beyond the age of 14. It's too bad there's not a system in place that trains them effectively.