Dropped 3rd Strike

[BretMan]

On that YouTube video, if you go back a few pages in the comment section, you'll see where I weighed in with the NCAA interpretation and the MLB interpretation from the MLB Umpire Manual.

I would have obstruction on that play in any baseball or softball rule set. The runner was called out on the play in the video and the call was officially protested. The protest was upheld, the runner was ruled safe due to obstruction, and the game resumed from that point a week later.

Baseball-wise, there has now been a wrench thrown into that line of thinking. I am not an NCAA baseball umpire, and obviously not a MLB umpire (I do high school ball),so I don't have first hand training on this.

But, I have been told that the NCAA has modified their rule, based on this very play. They now would interpret this as interference, essentially giving the fielder a "second chance" and restoring his protection if he is about to pick up his own deflected ball, even after having to chase after it.

For MLB, despite the rulings to the contrary, several pro umpires have stated the same thing (both Hunter Wendelstedt and Rob Drake, on their respective internet chat boards)- that the fielder is "protected again" if he catches up to his deflected ball, even beyond a "step and reach", and is about to field it again.

So, speaking baseball, who knows. I'll leave that to the college and pro guys, keep calling it the same way in high school until told differently and, in softball, call obstruction every time!