ASA case

[oppool]

SIT: R1 on 1st 2outs B4 hits a gapper to left as R1 turns 3rd F5 obstructs R1 but before R1 touches home B4 is put out coming into 3rd. Do you score the run? and if you would site the rule # or POE that cover this would be helpful thanks


Thanks

Don

[Roger Greene]

I can give you a Fed cite.

See Rule 9-1 "A runner scores one run each time she legally advances to and touches first, second and third and then home plate before there are three outs to end the inning.

Exceptions: A run is not scored if the runner advances to home plate during action in which the third out is made as follows: .....(clauses a. to f.)

Note: If a fielder illegally obstructs a runner and is responsible for failure of that runner to reach home plate, the umpire has authority to award home base to such runner."

In your sitch, if your judgement is that the runner could have crossed home before the third out if she hadn't been obstructed, you would award her the base and count the run.

The obstruction could have occured anywhere between 1st base and home, not just after 3rd, if you judge that the reason she failed to score before the third out was a result of the obstruction.

Roger Greene,
Member UT

[oppool]

With ASA the difference would be if a runner is obstructed between 1st and 2nd the obstruction of the runner goes off I believe once the runner passes 2nd but in this situation since it was between 3rd and home I believe you would award the run just couldnt find a exact siting of this in the rules or POE....HELP ASA EXPERTS!!

[Steve M]

Don,
I was kinda hoping to see Mike's response to this one. I do not see this covered in ASA's Rule 5 (dealing with The Game), in Rule 11 (dealing with Scorkeeping), or in POE 31. It is not dealt with by Rule 8, Section 6, Article B with anything specific, but that article reads:
"3. When a runner, ...... will always be awarded the base r bases which would have been reached, in the umpire's judgement, had there been no obstruction. ..." Using this wording, and knowing what NFHS sez, I would look at where exactly this runner was at the time of the third out. If more than halfway from 3B to home, I am pretty sure that I would award this obstructed runner home and instruct the scorer to count that run.
As to the obstruction "going off" once the runner passes the next base, not really. The obstructed runner is protected between the bases where the obstruction occurred, but watch the closeness of the play. POE 31, partway through, sez "If the obstructed runner is put out prior to reaching the base he would have reached had there not been obstruction..." So if R1 is obstructed between 1B & 2B and is thrown out on a very close play at 3B, you should have a dead ball and an award of 3B to R1.

[oppool]

Thanks for the reply and yes Steve you are correct it does say the runner should be awarded the base or base(s) the runner would of made it safely to. POE does discuss awarding of the other runners by the half way point by moving the runners either up or down so I am assuming in this SIT: you would award the base even after the 3rd out.
And yes hopefully Mike will clarify these points I could not either find the exact wording covering this


Thanks

Don

[Gulf Coast Blue]

I think Steve hit a homer with this one.......I glanced through the case-book and could not find anything......

As Steve noted....8-6-3-B covers it......

When a runner, while advancing.....is obstructed by a fielder ...... will ALWAYS be awarded the base or bases which would have been reached, in the umpire's judgement, had there not been obstruction.

I think the ALWAYS is the kicker on this one.

Joel

[IRISHMAFIA]

The run scores if, in the umpire's judgement, the runner would have scored had the obstruction not occured. When obstruction occurs, the runner is awarded the base which would have been attained had the obstruction not occured. The runner's right to these bases are "awarded" with no liability to be put out (save a missed base or a base left too soon if properly appealed).

Obstruction is included in the 5 reasons an umpire would make a "delayed dead ball" call. The final sentence states:

"Once the entire play is completed in each situation, the proper enforcement should be made."

Since the enforcement of the violation of rule by the defense is awarding the runner the deserved base (in this case home base), the obstructed runner is allowed to score.

The out stands and we move on to the next half inning.