Obstruction?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally posted by Dakota
Ooooooo doggies ... now you're in a pickle!

If the fielder was making a legitimate attempt at a play & while trying to run down the runner from behind clipped her heel of the runners backward stride with her forward stride, then I don't see obstruction. I do see an ejected offensive coach, however!

If the fielder was being clumsy and not making a legitimate play, then I can see an obstruction ruling, but the rules backup is weak. Probably won't get much grief from the defense with this call, since it would seem "fair."

If the fielder was intentionally tripping, then I see obstruction and ejection of the fielder.

While the obstruction definition, rule, and POE (ASA - I don't have LL rule books) all explicitly say a fielder "not in possession of the ball...", there is an underlying assumption that the fielder is playing the game legally. Tripping is not a legal defensive play.

This play cannot be obstruction as the player has possession of the ball.

After the call is made and the "tripping is not a legal defensive play", the next question most likely will be, "and that is under what rule?"

If deemed an intentional act, I believe the proper response would be "Dead ball! Runner on 1B, F3 ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct." Otherwise, nothing, though I'm still finding it hard to believe that if they were close enough to get their short legs tangled, a possible tag is not out of the question.

BTW, and I have seen this before, a fielder with the ball, by rule, may place themselves between the base and an advancing runner. There is nothing which says the defender cannot slide between the two to prevent the runner from touching the base. If this happens, intentional or otherwise, the play and all subsequent action is legal.