Let It Be

[DTQ_Blue]

Made 2 obstruction calls in a game today. I feel a lot better about one of them.

One in particular I'd like some comments on.

R1 stealing 2nd. F4 sets up 4 feet in front of 2B smack dab in the basepath to take the throw. As R1 approaches and the throw is about to be fielded R1 slows down because of F4's presence. I'm thinking I've got an impeded runner. Throw arrives, chest high, a tag, I call OBS and put R1 on 2B.

Now given the 4 feet in front of the bag location of F4, in all liklihood, if F4 had attempted to stay out of the basepath, she could have fielded the throw and still made the tag. My partner, who is one of the best, said that when the runner is esstntially dead meat (which he thoght was the case) I should just let the OBS go. I guess he was more sure than I was that the runner would have been out any way. Are there some OBS situations where I should just let it be? Comments?

The other situation occurred as we were awaiting the first pitch. Somehow a dog runs thru the dugout and onto the field 1B coach tries to grab the dog but the dog runs around him. I called OBS on the coach and awarded the dog 2B. Really happened. I feel better about that call.

Mike

[Dholloway1962]

Originally Posted by DTQ_Blue

As R1 approaches and the throw is about to be fielded R1 slows down because of F4's presence. I'm thinking I've got an impeded runner.

You have answered your own question here. You said that in your opinion F4 impeded the runner without possession of the ball. That is the definition of OBS as far as I know!

On your 2nd OBS, it's a dog eat dog world on the field so you should have let them play on and made no bones about it

[7in60]

Originally Posted by DTQ_Blue

Now given the 4 feet in front of the bag location of F4, in all liklihood, if F4 had attempted to stay out of the basepath, she could have fielded the throw and still made the tag. My partner, who is one of the best, said that when the runner is esstntially dead meat (which he thoght was the case) I should just let the OBS go. I guess he was more sure than I was that the runner would have been out any way. Are there some OBS situations where I should just let it be? Comments?

I like the OBS call here. Your partner cannot know 100% that the runner was dead meat because he/she slowed down due to the OBS. By calling it you protect the runner and hopefully F4 learns to stay off the basepaths without the ball.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by 7in60

...Your partner cannot know 100% that the runner was dead meat because...

That is actually irrelevant as to whether the OBS should or should not be called. Its only relevance is to which base will be awarded. Dead meat or not, the runner is not out.

[7in60]

Originally Posted by Dakota

That is actually irrelevant as to whether the OBS should or should not be called. Its only relevance is to which base will be awarded. Dead meat or not, the runner is not out.

As I explained in the rest of my sentence.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by 7in60

As I explained in the rest of my sentence.

The OP stated that his partner would not have made the OBS call because the runner was dead meat. This is not correct. Whether the runner is dead meat is irrelevant to whether the OBS call should be made. Your sentence that I responded to made the argument that the partner could not know whether the runner was dead meat. Whether or not he could know this is also irrelevant. That's all I was clarifying.

[CajunNewBlue]

dogs like dead meat.
Sorry... trying to "up" my post count

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by DTQ_Blue

Made 2 obstruction calls in a game today. I feel a lot better about one of them.

One in particular I'd like some comments on.

R1 stealing 2nd. F4 sets up 4 feet in front of 2B smack dab in the basepath to take the throw. As R1 approaches and the throw is about to be fielded R1 slows down because of F4's presence. I'm thinking I've got an impeded runner. Throw arrives, chest high, a tag, I call OBS and put R1 on 2B.

Now given the 4 feet in front of the bag location of F4, in all liklihood, if F4 had attempted to stay out of the basepath, she could have fielded the throw and still made the tag. My partner, who is one of the best, said that when the runner is esstntially dead meat (which he thoght was the case) I should just let the OBS go. I guess he was more sure than I was that the runner would have been out any way. Are there some OBS situations where I should just let it be? Comments?


Mike

Good call, your partner is wrong in this case, as described.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by DTQ_Blue

My partner, who is one of the best, said that when the runner is esstntially dead meat (which he thoght was the case) I should just let the OBS go. I guess he was more sure than I was that the runner would have been out any way.

Looks like
1) guessing an out
2) only caring about "42"

[youngump]

Originally Posted by DTQ_Blue

Made 2 obstruction calls in a game today. I feel a lot better about one of them.

One in particular I'd like some comments on.

R1 stealing 2nd. F4 sets up 4 feet in front of 2B smack dab in the basepath to take the throw. As R1 approaches and the throw is about to be fielded R1 slows down because of F4's presence. I'm thinking I've got an impeded runner. Throw arrives, chest high, a tag, I call OBS and put R1 on 2B.

Now given the 4 feet in front of the bag location of F4, in all liklihood, if F4 had attempted to stay out of the basepath, she could have fielded the throw and still made the tag. My partner, who is one of the best, said that when the runner is esstntially dead meat (which he thoght was the case) I should just let the OBS go. I guess he was more sure than I was that the runner would have been out any way. Are there some OBS situations where I should just let it be? Comments?

The other situation occurred as we were awaiting the first pitch. Somehow a dog runs thru the dugout and onto the field 1B coach tries to grab the dog but the dog runs around him. I called OBS on the coach and awarded the dog 2B. Really happened. I feel better about that call.

Mike

People have given the essence of this, but I wanted to call it out more clearly. As I understand it, if in your judgment the runner wouldn't have gotten second, you are not supposed to give her second. Send her back to first and get ready for a discussion with a coach.
________
Vaporizers

[SethPDX]

Originally Posted by youngump

People have given the essence of this, but I wanted to call it out more clearly. As I understand it, if in your judgment the runner wouldn't have gotten second, you are not supposed to give her second. Send her back to first and get ready for a discussion with a coach.

Yes, that is correct. It also seems like taking the dirty end of the stick if the runner was as close as in the OP. A runner would have to be a long, long way from the base for me to send her back.

[SC Ump]

Originally Posted by youngump

People have given the essence of this, but I wanted to call it out more clearly. As I understand it, if in your judgment the runner wouldn't have gotten second, you are not supposed to give her second. Send her back to first and get ready for a discussion with a coach.

Now see, that is exactly how I understand the rule is written, however, I do not think I would have realized that without you noting it here. For some reason I forgot that was an option when we started talking about the play happening in the vacinity of second. Thank you for the reminder.

[DTQ_Blue]

I did not think about returning R1 to 1B when I ruled OBS. Then after the game I realized that that would have been an option. However I think that there was a chance that R1 could have made 2B w/o the OBS, maybe only a 10% chance, but nonetheless, a chance. Given the play being in the vicinity of 2B and the "chance" I'm happy with the 2B award.

What bothers me most is that my partner, who thinks that I shouldn't have called OBS, is my Commissioner and HS game assignor.