Mike Candrea play
 

R1 on 1b, no outs. B2 Bunts. F4 comes to cover 1b and r1 runs so as to just make slight contact that prevents f4 from getting to 1B. He has his players do this and Malcolm Boyles told us about this play at the FP camp.

Naturally, now F4 takes a more circular route to 1b. I imagine when it happened at first f4 was quite near the base line and r1 did not have to go to far to get her. Never saw the play; just trying to describe it.

What are you going to do? If you know what they did, please refrain. If it goes no where, heck, give em the answer.

Speaking ASA

Obviously, this is pure umpire observation and judgment on behalf of the umpire.

There is no rule to cover this as interference though it could be obvious that R1 is committing an act of interference. By definition and RS 33, it is interference, but there is no associated rule.

There was a rule change proposal a couple years ago that would have handled this on an UC level, but it went nowhere.

Who has the right of way? The runner. F4 isn't in possession of the ball, fielding a batted ball, nor making a throw, or any protected activity. Unless you are prepared to rule malicious contact, flagrant contact, or an unsporting act, the runner can choose her running path, even to the effect of hindering the unprotected fielder.

At the same time, if you don't rule obstruction, the runner (R1) has made a play on her at 2nd easier for the defense.

Aaahh!!! This is where that judgment-thingy comes into play. IF you judge the runner was running out of their way for the purpose of drawing OBS, they are not being impeded by the defense.

I doubt, however, that such a move would ever be that obvious, much like the Japanese use their F4 to obstruct a runner coming off of 1B. This is something that was noticed (and maybe discussed here) a couple years ago during the World Cup. I believe one of the talking heads (Michelle Smith?) pointed it out. The movement is so slight it is barely noticeable, yet it will force the runner to take an extra step or two to the outside.
It is a calculated risk that they are willing to take to gain a possible advantage.

This is something I keep an eye out for in slow-pitch, especially on those slow rollers in coed wreck. Sometimes the runner is a big burly guy who could knock Miss California (the former one) on her rear, and that could get ugly, just plain ugly.

Strangely, in coed rec SP, I have yet to see F4 attempt to cover 1B on such a play.

Had that happen just last night. Bubba hit a deep shot past the outfielders, rounded 1B, and WHAM! Sweet lil F3 got knocked to the ground. Bubba had enough time to pick her up back onto her feet and make it to 2B. We gave him 3B.

I've seen it only a handful of times, usually in the "upper levels," and sometimes by mistake. :D

With the coed rec SP around here, this would probably only happen by mistake regardless of level!

Well, if Bubba took the time to help brush the dirt off, he may have scored!

Nah, Bubba wasn't all THAT fast. I even thought 3B was pushing it a little, but that was my partner's call. :)

What was that which just soared over your head?:rolleyes:

Wow... I totally missed that one!

Yes you did. :):D

Well, Mike and Alt Ump Steve put forth the two positions. Malcolm stated same thing as AltUmpSteve. I said I would go with USC but that is cause that is not spirit of fair play in my mind. My understanding is in the Pac 10 they went with Steve's thinking.

Ron

He's on fire today, folks!

Of course, he is getting set up pretty nicely. ;)