Play at the plate, opinions

[Big Slick]

Originally Posted by Manny A

From ASA Rules Supplement 13F (older version of the rule book; may be a different RS now):

"When a defensive player is fielding a thrown ball and the flight of the ball carries or draws them into the path of the base runner, it is not a crash."

The catcher initially set up barely up the third base line (one foot in the RHB's box, the other in front of home plate). The throw took her essentially four feet further up the line and into foul territory. And she basically caught the ball a split second before R1 collided with her.

So, when do you apply RS 13F? Does it only come into play if the runner collides with the fielder before she has the ball? In that case, it would clearly be obstruction.

One more thing as a food for thought. The catcher here was really not waiting to make a tag. It was pretty close to the ball and runner arriving at the same time.

Manny,
I do agree with you that the definition of "crash" (as in the rule supplement, and not defined by rule) includes the " . . . waiting to make a tag." That did worry me some after the game when I could review the rule book.

As best I can remember, here was the priorities as I watched the play:
1) is the runner being hindered in any way? Is the path deviated, and when she gets to the plate, is she hindered (i.e. contact or deviation) before possession?
Rationale: this is the #1 priority, when there isn't possession, the runner can and is entitled to go anywhere. I didn't observe the runner being hindered and . .

2) Catcher obtained possession - now what happens -- runner stays upright into the fielder. I'm ruling crash.
Rationale: this may be a bit misguided as the supplement states, as " . . waiting to make a tag" is a bit of a stretch here. There are some that could argue for a "wreck."

Note: While ASA has a very narrow window for a wreck (no possession = obstruction; waiting for the tag = crash), this play could be the one case. Without witnessing the play, this was one of the leading candidates for a ruling in the post game when talking it over with staff.

3) Is the crash worthy of an ejection?
I'm ruling a crash, and I (at the time) thought I have the option to eject. As someone else stated, the hands were up in defensive or at least "non aggressive" position, and there wasn't extra movement (i.e. arm extension) at the end of the contact.

Note: the rule supplement on the crash supports the choice of ejection vs. non-ejection.

And it is amazing how much different this play was in real time vs. the video. I could not tell you the catcher moved that far up the line to catch the throw.

BTW, let's take this play one step further - suppose the ball is 3 seconds later in arrival, but the runner still blasts the catcher (arms extended). How do you rule (I'll provide the answer below)?



(answer)

In ASA, the runner would be ejected, but the run would score (on the obstruction). In Fed play, the runner is out and ejected (I don't have my rule book, so I cannot cite the rule numbers).