Obstruction

[youngump]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

In the OP, you have a runner obstructed between first and second base. She cannot be called out between first and second (unless she commits some other violation). Other than an intervening play on another runner, there is no "waiving off" of this protection. The runner "giving up" and beginning to return to first has ZERO effect on her protection.

To clarify slightly what Mike is saying here. There is one case where the runner getting back (not starting back) to first effects her protection. And that is the case of the intervening play. If a runner gets to the protected base (1st in this case) and then the defense plays on another runner, the protection from obstruction is over.

[jmkupka]

Thanks guys, guess deep down I knew I was wrong, else I wouldn't have asked.

YoungUmp, does your comment mean that she can actually go back and touch 1B, and still trot to 2nd as long as no other play is made (& ball is not in circle)?

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by jmkupka

Thanks guys, guess deep down I knew I was wrong, else I wouldn't have asked.

YoungUmp, does your comment mean that she can actually go back and touch 1B, and still trot to 2nd as long as no other play is made (& ball is not in circle)?

Absolutely.

[youngump]

Originally Posted by jmkupka

Thanks guys, guess deep down I knew I was wrong, else I wouldn't have asked.

YoungUmp, does your comment mean that she can actually go back and touch 1B, and still trot to 2nd as long as no other play is made (& ball is not in circle)?

You've already been told yes, but perhaps this will help clarify why.

There are three keys to getting obstruction right.

One figure out the right award. You have to make it at the time of the obstruction based on what happens then. If she had not been obstructed based on what has happened in the play, where would she have reached.

Two, unless it's one of the specific exceptions, the runner is protected between the bases where she was obstructed AND to the base you are awarding.

Three, if the runner is put out while protected, kill the ball immediately. Award the obstructed runner the protected base and all other runners the bases you think they were going to obtain if you hadn't killed it.

So in your play. The award was first. Because that's as far as she was getting. Move to step 2. Acquiring the protected base is not one of the specific exceptions [nor were any others present]. Move to step 3. The runner was put out between the bases where obstructed so she is protected. Award first base.

In my variation lets put a runner on third who tries to go home in the confusion, seeing the runner go home the runner who has retreated all the way to first runs to second where she is tagged out. The award was first. Running back to first (the awarded base) and having a play on the runner going from third to home is an exception. Do not proceed to step 3. Runner is out keep the ball live. (Until the coach comes out to argue and then you can explain that this is an exception.)

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by youngump

In my variation lets put a runner on third who tries to go home in the confusion, seeing the runner go home the runner who has retreated all the way to first runs to second where she is tagged out. The award was first. Running back to first (the awarded base) and having a play on the runner going from third to home is an exception. Do not proceed to step 3. Runner is out keep the ball live. (Until the coach comes out to argue and then you can explain that this is an exception.)

To clarify the clarification ... you implied but did not state that there is a play on this runner heading home. Just having the runner trying to go home is not enough to waive protection. Also... the obstructed runner must go ALL THE WAY back to her protected base to remove the protection. If said runner rounded, but didn't return to first, instead heading to 2nd when the throw goes home, she's still protected.

That said, YU's 1-2-3 steps is going to get you through an obstruction call 99% of the time. I believe I've waived off obstruction twice in my entire career - one was missing a base, the other passed another runner. The exception above in YU's scenario has never happened while I was on the field, although it DID happen in a championship game I watched - and the blues (of course) got it right and managed to not eject anyone.

[jmkupka]

There were no other baserunners in my situation, nothing else to drop the OB except the BR's own actions, which I see now were not enough. Thanks again.

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by youngump

You've already been told yes, but perhaps this will help clarify why.

There are three keys to getting obstruction right.

One figure out the right award. You have to make it at the time of the obstruction based on what happens then. If she had not been obstructed based on what has happened in the play, where would she have reached.

Two, unless it's one of the specific exceptions, the runner is protected between the bases where she was obstructed AND to the base you are awarding.

Three, if the runner is put out while protected, kill the ball immediately. Award the obstructed runner the protected base and all other runners the bases you think they were going to obtain if you hadn't killed it.

So in your play. The award was first. Because that's as far as she was getting. Move to step 2. Acquiring the protected base is not one of the specific exceptions [nor were any others present]. Move to step 3. The runner was put out between the bases where obstructed so she is protected. Award first base.

In my variation lets put a runner on third who tries to go home in the confusion, seeing the runner go home the runner who has retreated all the way to first runs to second where she is tagged out. The award was first. Running back to first (the awarded base) and having a play on the runner going from third to home is an exception. Do not proceed to step 3. Runner is out keep the ball live. (Until the coach comes out to argue and then you can explain that this is an exception.)

Good answer, grasshopper. SRW can be proud.

[CecilOne]

Although not all sanctions say make the award decision at the OBS moment, rather after seeing the result of the OBS on the full run by the runner.

[SRW]

Originally Posted by AtlUmpSteve

Good answer, grasshopper. SRW can be proud.

It only took years of him getting it wrong to finally get it right.

Actually, he did this one all on his own.

I am proud, actually.

[ontheway]

In OP its stated that she "rounded" 1b. so if the obstruction occured past 1b how is it that she isnt protected to go to 2b?

[HugoTafurst]

Originally Posted by ontheway

In OP its stated that she "rounded" 1b. so if the obstruction occured past 1b how is it that she isnt protected to go to 2b?

She can not be called out between the bases where the obstruction occurs (in this case 1st and 2nd) but that does not mean she is awarded 2nd base...... She can be returned to first base if you feel that absent the obstruction she would not have made it to 2nd safely.

In other words, she is "awarded" or "protected to" the base you feel she would have attained absent the obstruction.
In addition, she can not be called out between the bases.
So if you don't feel she would have made 2nd base safely and she gets tagged out between 1st and 2nd - you can't call her out, but you can't give her second so.............

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by ontheway

In OP its stated that she "rounded" 1b. so if the obstruction occured past 1b how is it that she isnt protected to go to 2b?

She is. What's your question?