Catchers obstruction?????

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by Manny A

It's not black or white, Rich, as I'm sure you know. If the batter makes no attempt to offer at the pitch, and the umpire can judge that the catcher's position had nothing to do with why the batter didn't offer because the batter couldn't possibly see him (which sounds like what happened here), then there really is no CI/CO. But if the umpire judges that the reason the batter didn't offer was because the batter saw where the catcher was located (such as right on top or in front of home plate), then CI/CO could be ruled.

Even then, I've seen batters completely bail out of the box before the pitch arrives, such as on a steal of home. If the catcher moves up to catch the pitch, I couldn't justify a CI/CO call then, since it was clear the batter had no intent to contact the pitch.

Manny et. al. - one more time - the problem is that there are people that think there is never CI unless the batter swings. Once you say it's judgement then you legitimize their position because they can now say their judgement is that a non-swing means it couldn't be CI.


There was a play in MLB within the last year or two where on a pitchout a catcher jumped forward and out into the opposite batter's box, placing himself even with the batter, and got called for it.