The Official Forum - Obstruction/must slide

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I would really like to see an example of remaing upright and also avoiding contact with a defensive person who is I quote:

"The pitcher has one foot behind plate and one in front of plate with body over plate."

Quote:

Originally posted by 88fordman
Here is a little more info that may help everyone. It is a rec league lowest division. I didn't in my mind feel the runner was intentionally coliding with the pitcher/catcher.
Therefore no expulsion.
It was more a matter of the guy had shorts on and didn't want to slide. I don't use that as an excuse for not sliding but you see it all the time. I am not sure if it is a local rule or maybe an ASA, but at our local meeting it was emphasised that when there is a play at the base, the runner MUST slide to avoid a collision. That is what I based my call on and it was OK, until the 6th inning when the oposing team had a similar situation happen. There was a runner coming home and the throw was up the 1st base line about 5-10 feet. I didn't call the runner out for not sliding. The other team questioned it and I said there was no PLAY the ball was offline. The catcher however didn't move upline far enough to catch the ball and there was some contact with the runner and catcher. After the game the first team asked what the difference was. Why was there guy called out and not the other teams. I explained it to them.
They questioned the pitcher/catcher blocking the plate as obstruction. I reiterated that you MUST slide therefore my ruling.

If I were you, I would get as far away from that league as possible. It is a lawsuit just waiting to happen, especially with the Co-Ed game.

Local rules notwithstanding, speaking ASA.

Unless the crash by the runner was, in the umpire's judgment intentional, the call is OBS, not INT. 8.7.Q requires the defender to have the ball. In this case, the defender (idiot pitcher who wouldn't let the girls play) did not have the ball and was denying the runner access to the plate.

If the runner did collide intentionally, in your judgment, that would be INT, USC and out and ejection.

The rule does not state you have to slide. If you don't slide you may stop or try to go around the fielder.

it only doesnt require slide cuz of liability..
its lawyer fed semantics..

if you hit the defender playing on the ball, your but better be in the dirt.