OBSTRUCTION
As
with interference, obstruction is also a tough judgment call. Contact betwe=
en
the runner and fielder is not necessary to meet the definition. If a runner
must slow down or alter his path to avoid a fielder who is not in possessio=
n of
the ball or "in the act of fielding" a throw, he has been obstruc=
ted.
If
no play is being made on the runner at the time he is obstructed, the play
continues. “Time” is not called until all play ends. The tough =
part
comes when the play stops. The umpire will award the runner the base to whi=
ch
the umpire believes he would have reached had he not been obstructed. The p=
lay
ends and “Time” is called, when the obstructed runner is tagged
out, or he ceases to continue to advance, or he gets caught in a run-down, =
or all
action ends. At that time, the umpire may, award bases or not, in or=
der
to nullify the obstruction.
For
example: the batter hits a ball in the gap for what looks like an easy doub=
le.
No play is being made on him. As he rounds first the fielder is in his path=
and
they collide. The batter stops at first. The umpire will award the runner
second base, if he believes; the runner was making a legitimate effort to
advance to second base and could have made it, had he not been obstructed. =
The
umpire will protect the runner back to first base, if the runner was not ma=
king
an attempt for second, but the obstruction hindered his ability to get back=
to
first, before being put out.
It
does not matter where the obstruction occurs. If a runner is obstructed at
first base and the umpire believes he could have made it to third base, he =
will
be awarded third. The umpire must be the judge. If, in the umpire's judgmen=
t, a
runner is slowed down at first base, and the umpire judges that the runner =
had
a chance for a triple, but then is thrown out at third base, the out should=
be
nullified because of the obstruction at first. However, if the runner is
obstructed at first base and the umpire believes that only a double is
possible, and the runner advances to third and is thrown out; the out would
stand.
If
the runner reaches the base to which the umpire has protected him, and he
advances further during the action, and is put out, the out will stand.&nbs=
p;
An
immediate dead ball obstruction is called when obstruction occurs while a p=
lay
is being made on the runner.
For
example: a runner on first is attempting to reach third on a hit. A fielder
obstructs him, between second and third, as the throw from the outfield is
heading toward third. This is a play on the runner. The umpire should call
"time" when the obstruction occurs and award the runner third bas=
e.
Another example is a run-down play. It does not matter which way the runner=
is
heading. If he is obstructed while being played upon in a run-down, he is
awarded at least one base beyond the last base he held.
If
a runner is obstructed attempting to get back to first on a pick-off play, =
the
ball is dead and he is awarded second.