Obstruction or just baseball?

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by David B

In re-reading my original post I didn't put in play 1 that F2 caught the ball just as the runner began his slide it was bang bang so we did not rule obstruction. Probably should have.

I think the coach wanted the ejection more than anything.

Again, it's hard to be sure (even harder with your additional info), but FED has been pretty adamant about calling OBS when F2 is set up in the baseline without the ball. For example (8.3.2 C):

RULING: Obstruction. F2 cannot be in the base
path without the ball in his possession, nor can he be in the base path waiting for
a ball to arrive without giving the runner some access to home plate

As for ejection: unless the slide itself was illegal, sliding into a fielder is not malicious contact, regardless of the result.

[jicecone]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Again, it's hard to be sure (even harder with your additional info), but FED has been pretty adamant about calling OBS when F2 is set up in the baseline without the ball. For example (8.3.2 C):

RULING: Obstruction. F2 cannot be in the base
path without the ball in his possession, nor can he be in the base path waiting for
a ball to arrive without giving the runner some access to home plate

As for ejection: unless the slide itself was illegal, sliding into a fielder is not malicious contact, regardless of the result.

And the cool part about all this is that it happens in front of you in 1-2 seconds, when the catcher receives the ball, where exactly is he standing, does he deny access to the plate, how does the runner react, is it malicious and finally is the runner safe or out. Now don't mess up, get the call right or your not a good umpire.

You got to love this job we do.