F2: Verbal 'interference'?

[Bluefoot]

Men's ASA SP. Field has no foul lines drawn on it. BR hits fly ball down right-field foul line, and runs towards 1B. BR's back is to PU who is standing at home plate to judge where fly ball lands. Ball lands just inside fair territory. PU gives fair ball signal with arm extended towards fair territory. At same time, F2 loudly yells "Foul ball!"
BR (who does not see PU indicating fair ball) reacts to F2's verbal call and stays at 1B. F10 then throws the ball back in.
If F2 did not yell, BR may have been able to reach 2B safely.
Should PU award BR 2B?

[CecilOne]

If you are asking whether this is verbal obstruction, maybe, but you can only award 2nd if
- you really judge the BR would have reached it otherwise, and
- whether the yell actually caused the BR to stop, especially as he stayed at 1st, apparently having seen it land fair

[mcrowder]

This is textbook verbal obstruction, but I'm not sure 2nd base is the proper award - HTBT I suppose.

[rodan55]

Have had verbal interference, but no verbal obstruction. Had what would be verbal obstruction at a National, but the protest was overruled. I believe the wording has changed since then. Since it did not result in an out, let the play stand.

[Bluefoot]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

- whether the yell actually caused the BR to stop, especially as he stayed at 1st, apparently having seen it land fair

Yes, F2's yelling caused BR to stop. BR could not see on his own that the ball was fair, as there were no lines on field at all. The only person who could tell it was fair was PU, standing at home plate, who saw the ball land just inside fair territory and he signalled as such.

Is there an ASA rule that allows PU to award BR 2B, since F2 caused BR to stop at 1B, and BR may have gotten to 2B in umpire's judgement, had F2 not yelled "Foul ball!"?

[AtlUmpSteve]

Seems to me that Andy already answered that.

And, what was the first base coach doing? You know, the one person on the field to whom the BR should have been paying attention? BR isn't supposed to be seeing if the ball is fair, or even necessarily knowing that the umpire signalled fair. BR is supposed to do what the first base coach tells him to do.

[HawkeyeCubP]

As ASA Casebook Play 1-79 specifically addresses defensive team members trying to confuse base runners, and specifically states "There is no penalty for a defensive player or coach yelling," I do not have anything but a lackadaisical runner, until someone convinces me otherwise.

Go.

[mcrowder]

Hawkeye, that statement is specifically for that POE, and not for this sitch. You have a fielder here using words typically used by an umpire. If this was legal, you'd have fielders yelling foul and out all the time trying to confuse the offense. Thing is, it's NOT legal. Look at the definition of obstruction, this sitch IS included.

[Andy]

Should PU award BR 2B? - Don't know, HTBT to judge.

Can PU award BR 2B? - Yes, if PU believes the yelling by F2 impeded the BR's progress.