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Old Tue Jun 21, 2011, 07:21pm
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Originally Posted by Larry1953 View Post
So, what is your call: F5 jumps to catch a throw from F2 in a rundown situation. It deflects off his glove into LF and he lands on his feet 10 feet down the line from the bag where he was originally stationed for the rundown. R3 is running back to the bag - plants right foot, plants left foot then collides with F5 who obviously does not have possession of the ball since it is well on its deflected course way to LF?
Could be OBS. From your description, it sounds like OBS, but I would have to see the play to judge it, as it depends on whether the fielder hindered the runner and how they were lined up.

I had a play at 1B this year where R1 got picked off, took off for 2B, and got in a rundown. As F3 threw the ball to F6, he stepped out of the baseline toward right field. R1 turned around and ran toward RF in order to deliberately collide with F3 and beg for an OBS call, when he could have run toward 1B unobstructed. That was not OBS.
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Old Tue Jun 21, 2011, 08:53pm
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Could be OBS. From your description, it sounds like OBS, but I would have to see the play to judge it, as it depends on whether the fielder hindered the runner and how they were lined up.

I had a play at 1B this year where R1 got picked off, took off for 2B, and got in a rundown. As F3 threw the ball to F6, he stepped out of the baseline toward right field. R1 turned around and ran toward RF in order to deliberately collide with F3 and beg for an OBS call, when he could have run toward 1B unobstructed. That was not OBS.
MB, so how did you rule on R1? I guess he could have been called out if he deviated more than 3 feet from his established baseline.

As a coach, I never considered protesting a game and I don't recall any specific circumstance where I could have because the heartburn wasn't worth it. Several times, I would call out, "Hey Blue, wrong batter" to prevent the Able-Baker-Charlie stuff that would have eaten up much of our timed game ay to figure out. That said, could a call of no-OBS be protested? Let's say a conversation went like this: "Blue, that's obstruction. My runner gets home." "Nope, Coach, I've got the fielder in the act of fielding, trying to make the catch." "You do agree that the ball was well past him when they collided don't you." "Sure, but the fielder didn't have time to try to get out of the way". "The rules say he can no longer be considered in the act of fielding once the ball is past him". "Nope, it's a judgment call, Coach".

Clearly, to me at least, that is a misapplication of the rules. Is that the kind of explanation from an ump that would be grounds to file a protest? I just don't know how the mechanic works.
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Old Tue Jun 21, 2011, 09:30pm
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Originally Posted by Larry1953 View Post
Clearly, to me at least, that is a misapplication of the rules. Is that the kind of explanation from an ump that would be grounds to file a protest? I just don't know how the mechanic works.
Not being a baseball guy, I'm only guessing here, but I'm pretty sure this would be a judgment call.

note: basketball doesn't have protests unless you are in Missouri.
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Old Wed Jun 22, 2011, 07:51am
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Originally Posted by Larry1953 View Post
MB, so how did you rule on R1? I guess he could have been called out if he deviated more than 3 feet from his established baseline.
That's not the (entire) rule.
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Old Wed Jun 22, 2011, 08:07am
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Originally Posted by Larry1953 View Post
MB, so how did you rule on R1? I guess he could have been called out if he deviated more than 3 feet from his established baseline.
After bumping into F3, R1 tried to get back to the base, which F1 was covering, with the ball. R1 was out.
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Old Wed Jun 22, 2011, 08:11am
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Originally Posted by Larry1953 View Post
"Blue, that's obstruction. My runner gets home."

"Nope, Coach, I've got the fielder in the act of fielding, trying to make the catch."

"You do agree that the ball was well past him when they collided don't you."

"Sure, but the fielder didn't have time to try to get out of the way".

"The rules say he can no longer be considered in the act of fielding once the ball is past him".

"Nope, it's a judgment call, Coach".

Clearly, to me at least, that is a misapplication of the rules. Is that the kind of explanation from an ump that would be grounds to file a protest? I just don't know how the mechanic works.
Although ruling on obstruction is a judgment call, the umpire in your scenario has exhibited that he has misapplied the rule. His words, not his call, would open the call to protest, I think. (My state and no league I work allow protests, so I've never been involved in one, so I'm no expert here.)
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