Obstruction or no?
 

Saw this in a FED game last night. Slow ground ball to F6. Ball is going right toward R2 who "freezes" until the ball is about to hit him. He side steps and goes to third. F6, who had not been able to see the ball because of R2, boots it and everybody is safe. Defensive coach wants obstruction called on the runner. What do you have?

If it is my judgment that the runner acted in this fashion to get the result that he got, I have "Interference", not "obstruction", on the runner. Ball dead at time of interference, R2 is out and send batter to first and any other runners back to base at time of pitch.....

umpire99,

Kind of a HTBT sitch, but, as described, I've got:

1. A defensive coach who doesn't understand the difference between obstuction and interference

2. A likely interference call on R2.

JM

+1

FED ball, I think, you may have discretion to call two here also. Books not here.

If it's a no call and you're sure that you got it right, and he wants "obstruction" on the runner. You could simply tell him..."coach, there is no way possible that is "obstruction" on the runner."

It does sound a bit like interference though...but as JM states, it's tough to say for sure w/o seeing it.

While you have discretion, it's not likely that the defense would have turned a DP had F2 not stopped, so I wouldn't rule it in this play.

...unless forced by BR's placement on 1B.

Agree, sometimes I should shutup until I look it up.

I have nothing to call, explanations will come based on questions.

Don,

May I have "Time"?

Thanks.

How did you not call that Offensive Interference when the runner clearly INTENTIONALLY screened my fielder from seeing the ball until the last possible second? You don't need contact for interference.

What, were you sick the day they covered offensive interference at umpire school? Come on, you're better than that.

JM

Maybe I mis-read it and thought I read that he froze as the ball came at him and then side stepped away, but did not catch the part about the fielder being visually impaired at the time by the freeze.