Do you call OBS everytime?

[Big Slick]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

Even the "straddle" can be obstruction, anything that impedes the runner to any part of the base.

Originally Posted by charliej47

I was doing a sectional game and the "home" F3 would straddle 1st base every time. I called OBS at least twice before her coach ever asked why.

I explained and his statement was " we've been doing this all season, why are you calling it now?"

All I said was "Coach I didn't do you other games so I don't know what you did."

A "straddle" in a of itself is not obstruction, neither is "blocking the base without the ball." For obstruction to happen, the runner actually has to be hindered or impeded.

[SNIPERBBB]

Originally Posted by Big Slick

A "straddle" in a of itself is not obstruction, neither is "blocking the base without the ball." For obstruction to happen, the runner actually has to be hindered or impeded.

There are some conflicting opinions as to whether you wait for contact to happen to rule OBS or if the presence of a defender blocking the path causes a player to slowdown or reroute as obstruction.

[Big Slick]

Originally Posted by SNIPERBBB

There are some conflicting opinions as to whether you wait for contact to happen to rule OBS or if the presence of a defender blocking the path causes a player to slowdown or reroute as obstruction.

If the runner slows down or reroute, then you do have obstruction. That is being hindered. However, absent a slowdown or reroute, the defenders positioning is not in and of itself obstruction.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by SNIPERBBB

There are some conflicting opinions as to whether you wait for contact to happen to rule OBS or if the presence of a defender blocking the path causes a player to slowdown or reroute as obstruction.

If you think contact is needed, you are wrong. "slowdown or reroute " is being hindered or impeded.

[SNIPERBBB]

I didn't say there needed to be contact. I said theres conflicting opinions on whether the presence of the defender is enough of there has to be contact.

You see more of the former because umpires aren't watching the runners enough to know what they had to do in order to reach the next base.

[youngump]

Originally Posted by SNIPERBBB

I didn't say there needed to be contact. I said theres conflicting opinions on whether the presence of the defender is enough of there has to be contact.

You see more of the former because umpires aren't watching the runners enough to know what they had to do in order to reach the next base.

By conflicting opinions, I just want to make sure that you mean: there are those who are right and there are those who conflict with them. (The first group would be those who say the runner has to be impeded, and the latter group consists of those who say the defender being there is enough or that contact is required). I'm not sure what the point of saying that there are conflicting opinions is. The rule is clear.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by SNIPERBBB

I didn't say there needed to be contact. I said theres conflicting opinions on whether the presence of the defender is enough of there has to be contact.

You see more of the former because umpires aren't watching the runners enough to know what they had to do in order to reach the next base.

Sorry I was too abrupt.
I should have said "Those who think contact is needed (not you) are incorrect.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by SNIPERBBB

There are some conflicting opinions as to whether you wait for contact to happen to rule OBS or if the presence of a defender blocking the path causes a player to slowdown or reroute as obstruction.

No conflicting opinions here. An umpire who waits for contact isn't doing his/her job.

[CecilOne]

1) Fielder just being anywhere is not OBS.
2) Contact is not required.
3) Hindering or impeding is needed.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by Big Slick

A "straddle" in a of itself is not obstruction, neither is "blocking the base without the ball." For obstruction to happen, the runner actually has to be hindered or impeded.

I said "can be", as opposed to the knee down described above. Of course, some impeding is needed.