Obstruction: Score the run?

[tjones1]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

I'm really lost --- what "divided" this group? Umpires vs non-umpires? What justification did anyone have for sending the runner back to third?

I believe it was the fact that the defense thought they recorded the 3rd out; therefore, they didn't think they would need to play on R3.

Again, I tried to put them in the direction that if you send R3 back you are basically rewarding them for obstruction and why wouldn't a defensive team obstruct everytime?

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by tjones1

I believe it was the fact that the defense thought they recorded the 3rd out; therefore, they didn't think they would need to play on R3.

That doesn't make much sense since we killed the play on the tag anyway.

[ozzy6900]

Sounds like Type A so TIME is called on the tag of R1. This prevented R3 from scoring and since he was 1/2 way, I score him and put R1 on 2nd.

[robbie]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

Sounds like Type A so TIME is called on the tag of R1. This prevented R3 from scoring and since he was 1/2 way, I score him and put R1 on 2nd.

I could see using "1/2 way" as evidence for my judgement, but I would never use that in my explanation to a coach. Simply say "In my judgement R would have scored."

[GA Umpire]

Sounds like R3 scores to me.

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by tjones1

I believe it was the fact that the defense thought they recorded the 3rd out; therefore, they didn't think they would need to play on R3.

The ball is dead. A play on R3 is not possible.

[tankmjg24]

I very well could be wrong but my approach to this falls back to the fact that the ball is dead and the run has yet to score. Now if they are remotely close to the plate I am going to score him, but not halfway etc. You are not penalizing the offense either as you are awarding R1 with second on the OBS when he would have been called out originally. The defense screwed up, but they did not screw up on R3 trying to score so IMO R3 is placed back on third. I know the rule says to place runners as we feel and I could see why an umpire would place R3 back or why an umpire would score R3.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by tankmjg24

I very well could be wrong but my approach to this falls back to the fact that the ball is dead and the run has yet to score. Now if they are remotely close to the plate I am going to score him, but not halfway etc. You are not penalizing the offense either as you are awarding R1 with second on the OBS when he would have been called out originally. The defense screwed up, but they did not screw up on R3 trying to score so IMO R3 is placed back on third. I know the rule says to place runners as we feel and I could see why an umpire would place R3 back or why an umpire would score R3.

Your job is to make awards to *all* runners that, in your judgment, nullify the act of obstruction. If in your opinion R3 had a reasonable chance to score, score the run.

When it's you against the world, back the world.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by tankmjg24

I very well could be wrong but my approach to this falls back to the fact that the ball is dead and the run has yet to score.

This is exactly what you're not supposed to fall back on.

Now if they are remotely close to the plate I am going to score him, but not halfway etc. You are not penalizing the offense either as you are awarding R1 with second on the OBS when he would have been called out originally. The defense screwed up, but they did not screw up on R3 trying to score so IMO R3 is placed back on third. I know the rule says to place runners as we feel and I could see why an umpire would place R3 back or why an umpire would score R3.

It's not about penalizing or rewarding. It's about rectifying. Had the obstruction not occurred, how would the play have played out... After the runner would have been safe at 2nd, would defense have had time to make a play - and if so, and you think that play would have been a dead-meat runner, send him back. If not, score him.