Play

[whiskers_ump]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

I'm trying to reconcile these two comments. How or why was the runner that far off the baseline? Starting at 2B and the defender playing back eliminates the need to start off to 3B going behind the fielder. The OP does not give any indication the SS stepped up to the ball, but to her side.

What am I missing, Glen?

My Bad,

SS did step towards the ball putting her into runners line.

Just when you think you got everything covered, you find that you don't. [meaning
the way the play was presented to you guys]

[Andy]

I've got obstruction on the SS.

SS does not have the ball, she is no longer making an initial play, and she has impeded the runner. Sounds like textbook obstruction to me.

At the conclusion of the play, there is most likely nothing to do, since all runners are standing on the bases they would have obtained without the obstruction.

[wadeintothem]

Originally Posted by Andy

I've got obstruction on the SS.

SS does not have the ball, she is no longer making an initial play, and she has impeded the runner. Sounds like textbook obstruction to me.

At the conclusion of the play, there is most likely nothing to do, since all runners are standing on the bases they would have obtained without the obstruction.

She was in the immediate act of fielding a batted ball - the fact she was not sucessful does not negate that. The ball passing a fielder immediately (albiet unsuccessfully) fielding the ball does not mean that fielder must go *poof*. There is no requirment the fielding of the ball must be sucessful.


Hence, from my point of view, it cannot be OBS.

There is nothing in the scenario to me that makes me think she was stepping after a deflected ball or a step and reach situation. Just she was still bent over after being in the act of fielding a ball.

[Dakota]

The thing that bugs me about this play is, what was the runner going to do if the attempt to field had been successful (or still within step & reach)? IOW, this runner coud see the F6 dead ahead attempting to field a batted ball yet apparently made no attempt to avoid?

[Steve M]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

She was in the immediate act of fielding a batted ball - the fact she was not sucessful does not negate that. The ball passing a fielder immediately (albiet unsuccessfully) fielding the ball does not mean that fielder must go *poof*. There is no requirment the fielding of the ball must be sucessful.


Hence, from my point of view, it cannot be OBS.

There is nothing in the scenario to me that makes me think she was stepping after a deflected ball or a step and reach situation. Just she was still bent over after being in the act of fielding a ball.

Wade,
Hang on a minute, F6 had the opportunity to cleanly field the batted ball and muffed it. The ball is beyond a step & a reach, so F6 must go "poof". I've got obstruction here, too.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by whiskers_ump

My Bad,

SS did step towards the ball putting her into runners line.

That being the case, I would agree with the OBS unless you, as the umpire, believed the runner acted in a manner to create the OBS.