Another OBS twist

tcannizzo · #1 (**permalink**) Mon Jul 11, 2005, 01:11pm

While in between innings at the ASA State this weekend, I glanced over to the other field and noticed this play. Never saw it before, probably never will...and hope I can describe in words what I saw happen.

R1 on 2B, R2 on 1B with no outs. B3 hits a sharp ground ball to F6. F5 was playing in for a bunt, which caused F6 to run towards 3B to get the force herself. She was now in the basepath with R1 behind her. As F6 approached the bag, so was F5. F6 slowed down almost to a complete stop, which caused the runner to slow down accordingly as R2 was only a few steps behind F6, and then F6 gave an underhand toss about 4 feet to F5 on 3B for the force out.

F6 had definitley impeded R2, but while in possession of the ball. BU made no OBS and rang up R2.

Just wondering what others think about this.

Dakota · #2 (**permalink**) Mon Jul 11, 2005, 01:25pm

Quote:

Originally posted by tcannizzo
While in between innings at the ASA State this weekend, I glanced over to the other field and noticed this play. Never saw it before, probably never will...and hope I can describe in words what I saw happen.

R1 on 2B, R2 on 1B with no outs. B3 hits a sharp ground ball to F6. F5 was playing in for a bunt, which caused F6 to run towards 3B to get the force herself. She was now in the basepath with R1 behind her. As F6 approached the bag, so was F5. F6 slowed down almost to a complete stop, which caused the runner to slow down accordingly as R2 was only a few steps behind F6, and then F6 gave an underhand toss about 4 feet to F5 on 3B for the force out.

F6 had definitley impeded R2, but while in possession of the ball. BU made no OBS and rang up R2.

Just wondering what others think about this.

It "sounds" like OBS at first (maybe because F6 was not attempting a tag), but put the same actions by the same players in a run-down, and no one would question it. A fielder with the ball is entitled to obstruct the runner. That is her job.

U_of_I_Blue · #3 (**permalink**) Mon Jul 11, 2005, 01:50pm

Fielder in possession of the ball can block the basepath all day. Only thing that has me thinking is once she makes the throw, if she is still in the baseline and the runner has not yet passed her (in other words the runner is still being obstructed), can you then call obs.? Is this a situation where the fielder just can't vanish and barring intent, play on? Do you kill the play and award third (even though if she is stopped behind the fielder when F6 had possession and clearly would not have reached 3B anyway)?

As of now, I'd let the out stand.

-Josh

mcrowder · #4 (**permalink**) Mon Jul 11, 2005, 02:42pm

As the undisputed champion of overusing (in the minds of my peers) an OBS call, I still have an out on this play, unless F6 impeded R2 after releasing the ball. In all likelihood, R2 was still stopped (or nearly so) during that brief period when the ball was in flight, and was not impeded from her chosen path.

CecilOne · #5 (**permalink**) Mon Jul 11, 2005, 05:49pm

Can't award 3rd if "clearly would not have reached 3B anyway".
Could be OBS if F6 was still impeding the runner after the toss to F5. If so, only 2nd can be awarded on the "never out between the bases" clause. But then, all runners would have to advance and R1 would end up on 3rd.
Say what?