You make the call
 

Batters hits fair ball down the right field line. BR collides with F3 (failing to touch 1Base), umpire signals OBS. BR advances to 2B, then advances to 3B on bad throw. Defense appeals missed base at 1B. Do you call the BR out for failing to touch 1B or enforce the OBS and leave her on 3B?

Did the OBS cause the missed base?
Did the umpire judge the BR would reach another base w/o the OBS and 1st touched?

Runner is out
 

My understanding is that the obstructed runner is still required to touch all bases.

But I'm just a coach - very interested to hear what the umps have to say!

OBS does not relieve the runner from her base running duties. She must legally run all bases. As a matter of fact, ASA clearly states that an appeal for missing a base as a situation where the runner can be called out between the two bases where she was obstructed. (8:5:B)

She must run bases correctly. However, when the umpire awards the base, she is allowed to retouch... so we don't have enough information yet.

Cecil's 2nd question is important - where was the runner protected to (i.e. awarded)? Probably 2nd from the description, but this is a guess.

Also - was this missed base appeal made during live or dead ball period?

If the award was 3rd base, the umpire will not be telling the runner to go retouch, but the umpire SHOULD announce the OBS and award third base (yes, this can be awkward and/or confusing if she's already standing on 3rd). If the runner goes and retouches properly, she's fine. Most likely, she won't ... and then a dead ball appeal at 1st would result in an out.

On the other hand, if this is a live ball appeal --- wouldn't most of you call that a play on the runner? At which point we should rule dead ball, announce the OBS and the award, and again, see if the runner goes to retouch.

I'd be interested to hear Mike's opinion on this.

Agreed, there is no ASA rule which exempts the runner, obstructed or not, from touching all the bases in proper order.

Once the ball becomes dead for any reason, I'm hesitating to see any reaction by the runner (as to return to touch the missed base). If none, I accept the appeal and rule the OBS out.

If you had a situation like this where the runner missed 1st, ended on 2nd, and your award was third, you would announce the OBS and the award, and wait to see what the runner did regarding the missed base, right?

So why give LESS opportunity to fix her mistake to someone who managed to make it to their awarded base?

I would probably do the same thing. Hesitate, announce the award. Hesitate again and then move on. If there is an appeal coming, I will accept it at that point.

How do you figure there was less opportunity? If the award would have been 2B, there is no OBS to address once she passed that base.

ISF
New rule last year
The runner is exempted from touching the base if prevented from doing so by obstruction .

Define "prevented"...

Unless the defender picked up the bag and tossed it into the dugout, not much would "prevent" retouching the bag.

If they couldnt touch the bag in the normal legal running of the bases.
The same as you would judge if it was obstruction , then they dont have to touch that base .

Interesting... so if OBS causes them to miss the bag the first time by, they are not required to return to retouch (if I understand you correctly).

I wonder if ASA will pick up that change. Not sure if I like it, though.

Because your first answer was, "Once the ball becomes dead for any reason, I'm hesitating to see any reaction by the runner (as to return to touch the missed base). If none, I accept the appeal and rule the OBS out." I didn't read that you would announce the award in that case, which was my main point of contention with your statement.

Dakota
Yes you have it correct .
OBST is still signalled

Good rule. Common sense.
Runner should not be penalized for obstruction and delayed in attaining bases.

Seems to me the BR must make some adjudged attempt to touch. That is, if F3 is in the base line (a few feet from 1st] and blocking 1st, the BR should not be allowed to merely cut the corner and head to 2nd without making an attempt to touch 1st.

In the OP, there would have been no award to announce as the OBS was dropped (IMO based on the scenario) when the runner passed 2B.

Mick
It is essential to state here that OBST must still be judged .
If in your scenario you judge the runner was not hindered then you dont have OBST .
In your scenario I wouldnt have OBST either .

I was just trying to understand the rule:

Quote:

Originally Posted by debeau ISF New rule last year The runner is exempted from touching the base if prevented from doing so by obstruction .

Do you have any more information? Are there any cases given?

My Call & Who are You Debeau?
 

Not much difference between ISF and ASA Rule Book, but this is one of the few. The BR was Obs from touching 1st and proceded to 2nd therefore if only reaching 2nd - No Appeal on missing 1st, the Obs protects this happening. If the BR does not break stride and continues to 3rd and gets tagged within reason, or in the Umpires judgement would of made 3rd, then still Safe. Regardless of missing 1st, The Obs ruled protects the runner, the overthrow possibly would of happened regardless.

Bebeau so few ISF umpires on this great site - Who are you?

Mick
To tell you the truth I havnt had to deal with it .
Hell , the players are still trying to get their head around the original obstruction rule change .
I generally umpire high level mens ball so they are pushing the boundaries anyway .
Had a 13 year old tourney in April and the coaches were still using rules and mind sets from early 90's . They were devestated when we said there were major changes in 2002 and another 64 changes in 2006 .

UKumpire
I umpire in New Zealand
I come on to this site for fun discussion and many plays and relate them to ISF .
Many rules are the same but our interretations are sometimes different .
Obstruction is one of the major ones , ie how we deal with an obstructed runner .
How is the UK , weather warm ?
Here in New Zealand , just hit winter with temps still getting to late twenties(celcius ) .
1st big frost of the year Monday and went down to 0 but thats about as cold as it gets .
Expecting a Southerly storm on Friday and Saturday with snow to low levels .
we generally get snow 2 or 3 times a year but it only sits around for a few days where I live .
To tell you the truth we could have winter softball if we had the numbers .
A sunny winter day still gets to 15degrees and is often warmer than those early summer easterly winds .

And then the fielder could be a minor league manager. ;) :D

Obs over Base
 

Had one this weekend, abet Slowpitch, but same interpretation of Ruling.
2nd Baseman was strandling the bag, runner came inside, as close as possible to the base, but was blocked from touching the bag, to go to third and got to 3rd. D appealed missed 2nd, but I had already spotted this and had a DDB. Explained that due to obstruction of the bag by the 2nd baseperson OBS ruled. Appeal Denied

Mick - Softball Canada uses the ISF wording for obstruction.This is from their casebook: (ignore the superfluous use of the word deliberately)

292. There is a runner at 2nd when the batter hits a pitched ball for a single to center field. R2 is deliberately obstructed and unable to touch 3rd and continues on to home plate where he scores. After all play has stopped the defence makes a dead ball appeal on R2 for missing 3rd.
RULING: The umpires shall award R2 both 3rd and home due to the deliberate obstruction. R2 is not required to touch 3rd base due to the obstruction. If a runner can not touch a base because s/he was obstructed s/he cannot be called out on a subsequent appeal.

Note :Softball Canada refers to runners according to the base on which they started.

Thanks eh, BCCanuck. I appreciate that.

In attempting to understand why and when the runner can *forget* the touch (and realizing that the runner doesn't have to wrestle the fielder for the bag) I am puzzled as to:

• How much of an effort does the runner need to make to touch the bag
  • some ?
  • none ?
• How close to the bag does the obstruction have to occur before the runner may just run around with no effort.
  • inches, centimeters?
  • feet, meters ?
• What if the fielder moves out of the way late enough to call obstruction, but early enough to make the bag available.

I think the intent the rule is fair enough, I am just looking at how to judge it.
I'm looking for some kind of measurement (and not to just leave it to the whim of the runner), like when the runner is forced to break stride two strides from the bag, or 3 seconds, ... or somthin'.

Make a Call, make a Judgement ...
 

I am just looking at how to judge it.
I'm looking for some kind of measurement (and not to just leave it to the whim of the runner), like when the runner is forced to break stride two strides from the bag, or 3 seconds, ... or somthin'.[/QUOTE]

How many Judgement calls do you make in a game? This is all it is, a judgement call, there is no way to measure a judgement call, it's all up in our head, thats why we are the Blu's and they are the players.

If you think the runner is making a play for the bag but cannot get to it and goes around or just inside it - you got an OBS: If you think the runner is taking the 'Piss' with missing the bag - You got an OUT :D

It's Your Call, No one Else's ...

Well, I guess I can do that, absent any explanation of a, seemingly, poorly written rule. ;)

MEMO to ASA Rule Book Editorial Board...
 

ASA-speak for the same thought: "If a runner cannot touch a base because they were obstructed they cannot be called out on a subsequent appeal."

Put down your PC neo-Grammar Guide and read the above two sentences. Which is better English?