Questioning Catcher Obstruction. \\

[Tru_in_Blu]

Originally Posted by SNIPERBBB

Doesnt modified slow pitch require runners to stay on base till the ball crosses the plate? Would make catcher OBS for the purposes of getting a stealing runner rather impossible

8.4.A
A. (Fast/Modified Pitch) When the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand on the delivery.

I don't think there is a category for "modified slow pitch". There's Fast, Modified, Slow (w/ or w/o stealing).

So for the first 2 categories, runners are allowed to leave their base once the pitcher releases the ball. These could result in a squeeze play.

Since bunting (or chopping) is not allowed in slow pitch, I'm not sure we could have a traditional squeeze play. Perhaps a delayed steal of home in games that allow stealing.

None of our slow pitch leagues allow stealing, so I can't offer any more than that.

To the original question, I've seen it once in a Latin League game. Very early in my umpiring time and didn't know what to do. I called the pitch a ball. In retrospect, I wondered if that was intentional to determine my experience level.