Obstruction??

[argodad]

Originally Posted by clev1967

3rd inning of tonight's game on play where Florida runner had to be held up. SS made her alter her path to third? If you saw it do you think it was obstruction? I did. Close but she for sure altered her path to third.

Also, if it is called in that situation and she is thrown out at home and it is somewhat close do you give her home?

I thought it was obstruction when I saw it live. When Kruk mentioned it and they showed it in slow motion, it confirmed it for me. In that situation, i would have awarded the runner home. The OC stopped her because she was slowed down getting to 3B. Even then, he stopped her after a big turn.

[wadeintothem]

Personally, I thought it was a good noncall - but there was ..... a mild impeding ..

And there is no way in hell I would have awarded home on that.

[Umpteenth]

When you see OBS, how do you call it (ASA Perspective)? Do you signal Delayed Dead Ball, then verbally call the OBS and grant the award?

Would you do the same with and INT call, or would that be more immediate?

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by Umpteenth

When you see OBS, how do you call it (ASA Perspective)? Do you signal Delayed Dead Ball, then verbally call the OBS and grant the award?

Close. Signal the DDB, verbally call the OBS, grant the award when the play is over (if the runner hasn't already reached or passed the awarded base).

Originally Posted by Umpteenth

Would you do the same with and INT call, or would that be more immediate?

INT is an immediate "Dead ball!" followed by an out (or two, depending on the INT call).

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Umpteenth

When you see OBS, how do you call it (ASA Perspective)? Do you signal Delayed Dead Ball, then verbally call the OBS and grant the award?

Dave is correct, but I hate the verbalization. I have observed and personally experienced players stop playing when they hear the umpire say something IF you are going to verbalize, don't scream.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Dave is correct, but I hate the verbalization. I have observed and personally experienced players stop playing when they hear the umpire say something IF you are going to verbalize, don't scream.

I'll admit that out of the thousands of OBS calls I've made, I've not once verbalized "obstruction." I only mentioned it because, well, that's what's taught at the clinics.

[wadeintothem]

pretty much no one does.. we all know were supposed to though

Throw the arm.. they know what that means.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

pretty much no one does.. we all know were supposed to though

Throw the arm.. they know what that means.

I've never heard ANY of my partners verbalize it either, regardless of whether they're newbies or veterans. I don't understand why ASA wants us to verbalize it, since any verbalization other than "safe" tends to stop the runners. We don't yell "fair ball," so why yell something else that could potentially stop play prematurely?

Can someone call Kevin, send him $50 and get him to take it out of the Umpire's Manual? I'll gladly chip in a few bucks!

[argodad]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Dave is correct, but I hate the verbalization. I have observed and personally experienced players stop playing when they hear the umpire say something IF you are going to verbalize, don't scream.

I verbalize when F3 obstructs a runner rounding first on a single to the outfield. I want the player to know that their action wasn't legal ... even though I'm not awarding the runner second base.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by argodad

I verbalize when F3 obstructs a runner rounding first on a single to the outfield. I want the player to know that their action wasn't legal ... even though I'm not awarding the runner second base.

I do that too, after the play is complete. I always announce an OBS call whether bases are awarded or not.

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Dave is correct, but I hate the verbalization. I have observed and personally experienced players stop playing when they hear the umpire say something IF you are going to verbalize, don't scream.

I never verbalize OBS at the rec levels of slow pitch. That only stops the world from turning. At the higher levels, I'll verbalize it just enough for the runner and the infielders near to me to hear it, so when the play concludes and I'm awarding (if so), then there were "witnesses" who heard me have an OBS during the play.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Ref Ump Welsch

I never verbalize OBS at the rec levels of slow pitch. That only stops the world from turning.

Where I had problems was in a varsity HS game...TWICE (2 different games and teams)

At the higher levels, I'll verbalize it just enough for the runner and the infielders near to me to hear it, so when the play concludes and I'm awarding (if so), then there were "witnesses" who heard me have an OBS during the play.

I never called it at the higher levels. I don't need a witness even though everyone around the field can see my arm and no one really "needs" to hear it or know that it has been called. Their job is to play and coach the game in front of them, not to the call. All that can do is get them into trouble.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

I never called it at the higher levels. I don't need a witness even though everyone around the field can see my arm and no one really "needs" to hear it or know that it has been called. Their job is to play and coach the game in front of them, not to the call. All that can do is get them into trouble.

Most players already know if they've been obstructed or not, and most have a relatively basic understanding that being obstructed is somehow wrong. They may not know what the rules say about it, but they know that something should happen in their favor.

I guess that makes them very similar to 5-year olds.

[txtrooper]

When I see OBS, I state OBS in a normal tone and give the visual DDB signal to let the runner know that I have observed the violation. The award is made after the play, if necessary. When I see INT, I give an immediate strong verbal dead ball call and provide the visual dead ball signal as well.