Giants game obstruction

[Forest Ump]

Who got obstruction on the SS here when Sandoval ran into him at 2nd? I didn't see the umpire signal anything in the actual game. It's hard to see in the video. It happens at 32 sec. I have obstruction and would protect Sandoval to 3rd if he needed it. Also, that bunt by Zito was just amazing.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by Forest Ump

Who got obstruction on the SS here when Sandoval ran into him at 2nd? I didn't see the umpire signal anything in the actual game. It's hard to see in the video. It happens at 32 sec. I have obstruction and would protect Sandoval to 3rd if he needed it. Also, that bunt by Zito was just amazing.

No way - no how - no place - no time.

Ball, fielder, runner arriving at basically the same time - train wreck. Remember that in the OBS rules in OBR the fielder can be in the act of fielding - he doesn't need to be in possession.

[Forest Ump]

Rich...I agree somewhat as I know the fielder can't just disappear after missing a chance to field the ball. However, I would still protect Sandoval if there was a close call at third. How could you not? He was clearly impeaded in his advancement.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Forest Ump

Rich...I agree somewhat as I know the fielder can't just disappear after missing a chance to field the ball. However, I would still protect Sandoval if there was a close call at third. How could you not? He was clearly impeaded in his advancement.

So the fielder did nothing wrong but you're going to reward the runner anyway?

[jicecone]

A runner and a fielder doing what they are supposed to, play on.

[dash_riprock]

It's like a "tangle/untangle" play at the plate.

[UmpTTS43]

Once a fielder is no longer in the act of fielding a ball, he has an obligation to give way to the runner and not obstruct him. In the play above, he did give way immediately after the fielding attempt/contact. The contact occured during the fielding attempt. Under no circumstances is this OBS.

[GA Umpire]

I don't have OBS and neither did U2 on it. While watching the game, several replays were shown and U2 was shown in one signaling safe (and probably saying "That's nothing") immediately after the contact and well after the ball was already in centerfield. It took a lot of replays to get one with U2 in it after the contact but he definitely signaled safe after the contact.

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by Forest Ump

Rich...I agree somewhat as I know the fielder can't just disappear after missing a chance to field the ball. However, I would still protect Sandoval if there was a close call at third. How could you not? He was clearly impeaded in his advancement.

A train wreck is a train wreck. No one gets protected or penalized. If Sandoval didn't make it to 3rd, that's too bad. I understand what you are getting at but once you rule a train wreck, those feelings have to disappear.

[Forest Ump]

OK. I understand it better now. Thanks for clarifying.

[Manny A]

What if this had been a batted ball?

And the reason I ask is because I don't have any of my authoritative interpretations handy to look it up. But I thought I recall reading somewhere that if a fielder fails to field a batted ball and ends up in the runner's path, he could be held liable for obstruction. The example, if memory serves, is when a fielder is on the ground after diving and missing a batted ball, and the runner has to jump over him.

[justacoach]

Originally Posted by Manny A

What if this had been a batted ball?

And the reason I ask is because I don't have any of my authoritative interpretations handy to look it up. But I thought I recall reading somewhere that if a fielder fails to field a batted ball and ends up in the runner's path, he could be held liable for obstruction. The example, if memory serves, is when a fielder is on the ground after diving and missing a batted ball, and the runner has to jump over him.

Manny, can you PM me for old time's sake?
justacoach