Obstruction opinion - ISF

[bsnalex]

Actually, I just reread the rule and obstruction is given only if the fielder in possession of the ball is impeding the runner but NOT making a play.

Not sure how that could possibly work to be impeding a runner without making a play...

So....never mind....

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by bsnalex

Actually, I just reread the rule and obstruction is given only if the fielder in possession of the ball is impeding the runner but NOT making a play.

Not sure how that could possibly work to be impeding a runner without making a play...

So....never mind....

Um ... can you quote the rule - I don't have that book here. "Not making a play" makes me think of a fielder with the ball who doesn't even know there is a runner in the vicinity... but even in that case, I do not see the obstruction rule allowing OBS to be called in this case.

[bsnalex]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Um ... can you quote the rule - I don't have that book here. "Not making a play" makes me think of a fielder with the ball who doesn't even know there is a runner in the vicinity... but even in that case, I do not see the obstruction rule allowing OBS to be called in this case.

Rule 8.7.b.5
8.Batter-Runner and Runner: (7)RUNNERS ARE ENTITLED TO ADVANCE WITHOUT LIABILITY TO BE PUT-OUT (b) When a fielder prevents the runner from making a base, or impedes the progress of a runner or batter-runner who is legally running bases; if the fielder is (5) In possession of the ball, but not in the act of making a play on the runner which intentionally impedes the progress of that runner or batter-runner who is legally running the bases.

Again--not sure how you could be next to the runner with the ball, and simultaneously impede him but not knowning be making a play. Sounds like it would more be a case of back to the basics

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by bsnalex

Again--not sure how you could be next to the runner with the ball, and simultaneously impede him but not knowning be making a play. Sounds like it would more be a case of back to the basics

I suppose an extreme example would be a fielder who falls face-first to the ground after fielding the ball, and as the runner tries to run behind her, she reaches out with her leg and trips her, then crawls over to her and tags her.

In your situation, F4 placing the glove in front of the base as the BR approaches it is enough of an act for me to consider it making a play on that runner. She's anticipating the BR is going to slide into the glove.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by bsnalex

Rule 8.7.b.5
8.Batter-Runner and Runner: (7)RUNNERS ARE ENTITLED TO ADVANCE WITHOUT LIABILITY TO BE PUT-OUT (b) When a fielder prevents the runner from making a base, or impedes the progress of a runner or batter-runner who is legally running bases; if the fielder is (5) In possession of the ball, but not in the act of making a play on the runner which intentionally impedes the progress of that runner or batter-runner who is legally running the bases.

Again--not sure how you could be next to the runner with the ball, and simultaneously impede him but not knowning be making a play. Sounds like it would more be a case of back to the basics

Poorly worded, but this is not what you're making it out to be... this is their attempt to codify the fact that the fielder with the ball can not push/pull the runner off the base or grab their jersey to make a play, etc.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by bsnalex

Actually, I just reread the rule and obstruction is given only if the fielder in possession of the ball is impeding the runner but NOT making a play.

Not sure how that could possibly work to be impeding a runner without making a play...

So....never mind....

In ISF a fielder in possession of the ball can not be ruled for obstructing a runner except if pushing the runner off a base (which is understandable) or not making a play on the runner obstructed (which I do not understand)