Obstruction ???

[teebob21]

Originally Posted by Insane Blue

ASA C State

R1 on 2nd base B2 hits shot to outfield rounds first and is obstructed going to 2nd base. R1 has rounded 3rd base and is a little more than half way to home when B2 is tagged out at 2nd. Base umpire kills the play having to called dead ball 3 times to finally stop play as the defense was trying to get R1 out at the plate.

What should be done with R1 as she was between 3rd and home when the play was killed? By the way she beat the throw home easily.

When we make this call, I like to make eye contact with my partner(s). PU may not have seen the OBS signal or heard you. Once they see my hands in the air, they will generally figure that something is up. If the players want to keep playing, no big deal. We killed it. We have all the time in the world to make the call.

[CecilOne]

I always, no almost always, repeat dead ball calls loudly; partly to be sure I'm heard with everyone yelling and partly to avoid injuries by stopping play. Even if I can stop looking at players long enough to look at my partner; I want him/her to know a soon as possible. There is no harm in announcing it more than once.
Except things like HBP, etc.

[Insane Blue]

Okay the reason I posted this is because as I came of the field an assistant UIC states he is very upset at how we handled a play during this game. The AUIC stated once we killed the ball those not affected by the Obstruction should be put back to the last base they legally held (R1).

When we got back to the Umpire area the head UIC (newer UIC I think second year) and another AUIC backed the 1st AUIC's ruling on the play.

When I brought out the Rule book and Read both the Rule and Rule Supplement I was still told we handled it wrong. This really upset me as I take pride in my knowledge and Mechanics.

After the tournament I talked to my local UIC who backed my ruling and how I handled this. I emailed the State UIC who also agreed with the way we handled this.

My challenging the UIC staff cost me games on Sunday. I have never not worked on a Sunday and almost always have a final.

Glad to see that most of those that gave input here had the correct awards.

[jmkupka]

Your AUICs are erroneously applying the Interference Rule regarding placement of runners in their interpretation of this play... and punishing the offense for the defense's infraction...

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by teebob21

When we make this call, I like to make eye contact with my partner(s). PU may not have seen the OBS signal or heard you. Once they see my hands in the air, they will generally figure that something is up. If the players want to keep playing, no big deal. We killed it. We have all the time in the world to make the call.

Partners really do not need to know that you have OBS. For that matter, it is probably better that s/he doesn't know. All umpires need to just umpire the game in front of them as it unfolds without consideration to a partner's DDB signal.