Originally posted by jbooth
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Originally posted by dw8man View PostSo, I read that to say that an ump can award more then one base to the runners? For example, runner on first. Batter hits a shot to the gap on a really big field. The batter is obstructed by, let's say, a pitcher who isn't happy... Anyway, can the ump allow the runner to advance home if he felt the runner would have made it?
There are two rules that cover obstruction. 7.06a and 7.06b. One applies when obstruction occurs while a play is being made on the obstructed runner, and the other applies when no play is being made on the runner at the time he is obstructed. A "play" for purposes of the rule is when the ball has been thrown, and is in-flight toward the base to which the runner is heading, or when a runner is in a run down.
Here are the rules. Note the differences between "a" and "b."
7.06
When obstruction occurs, the umpire shall call or signal "Obstruction."
If a play is being made on the obstructed runner, or if the batter-runner is obstructed before he touches first base, the ball is dead and all runners shall advance, without liability to be put out, to the bases they would have reached, in the umpire’s judgment, if there had been no obstruction. The obstructed runner shall be awarded at least one base beyond the base he had last legally touched before the obstruction. Any preceding runners, forced to advance by the award of bases as the penalty for obstruction, shall advance without liability to be put out.
Rule 7.06(a) Comment: When a play is being made on an obstructed runner, the umpire shall signal obstruction in the same manner that he calls “Time,” with both hands overhead. The ball is immediately dead when this signal is given;
(b) If no play is being made on the obstructed runner, the play shall proceed until no further action is possible. The umpire shall then call “Time” and impose such penalties, if any, as in his judgment will nullify the act of obstruction.
Rule 7.06(b) Comment: Under 7.06(b) when the ball is not dead on obstruction and an obstructed runner advances beyond the base which, in the umpire’s judgment, he would have been awarded because of being obstructed, he does so at his own peril and may be tagged out. This is a judgment call.
NOTE: The catcher, without the ball in his possession, has no right to block the pathway of the runner attempting to score. The base line belongs to the runner and the catcher should be there only when he is fielding a ball or when he already has the ball in his hand.
Examples;
(1)Pitcher attempts a pick-off to first and the runner is obstructed while returning to first.
Ruling; this is a "play" 7.06a. Time is called immediately and the runner is awarded second. "at least one base beyond the base he had last legally touched before the obstruction."
(2)Ball is in the outfield gap when a runner is obstructed.
Ruling; this is a "no play" 7.06b. When the play is over, then the umpire calls time and may, or may not, impose a penalty. He will allow the play to stand if he judges that the obstruction didn't change the play, or he can put the runner at the base to which he believes he would have reached, if he had not been obstructed. If the obstruction is minor and the runner gets thrown out by a mile, the out could stand. If the obstruction is significant and the runner gets put out on a close play, he may nullify the out and award the base. The runner could get obstructed rounding first and then get thrown out at third. The ump judges whether the obstruction caused him to be out or not.Last edited by jbooth; 04-24-2007, 10:07 AM.
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So as long as the catcher has the ball, he is allowed to plant himself on the line, or on the plate for that matter?
If so, how far up the line is he allowed to go? I ask this because one time last year I was catching, and I caught the ball and planted myself about 4 feet up the line (on my knees). The runner dropped his shoulder into me, and sent me flying. The ump called him out (because I held onto the ball), but didn't throw him out because he said that I was too far up the line.
Is this true? I have a hard time believing it.WAMCO!
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Originally posted by Richmond Hill Phoenix View PostSo as long as the catcher has the ball, he is allowed to plant himself on the line, or on the plate for that matter?
If so, how far up the line is he allowed to go? I ask this because one time last year I was catching, and I caught the ball and planted myself about 4 feet up the line (on my knees). The runner dropped his shoulder into me, and sent me flying. The ump called him out (because I held onto the ball), but didn't throw him out because he said that I was too far up the line.
Is this true? I have a hard time believing it.
You need to position yourself OUT of the path, and then if you NEED to move into the path, in order to glove the ball, you may do so, and it doesn't matter where the intentional collison occurs.
Regarding, the ump not throwing the runner out; where you were, when you got slammed, is not relevant. Maliciously crashing into you, is unsportsmanlike and deserves an ejection. Also, if you had the ball and were waiting to tag him, and he knew he was going to be out, in all rules except professional, he needs to slide, OR attempt to avoid a collision. If he does not, he is out even if he knocks the ball out.
If he attempts to avoid you, but still collides and you drop the ball, then he is NOT out and NOT ejected. He is out when the umpire judges that no attempt was made to avoid the collision. He is ejected, if the umpire judges that he INTENDED to crash into you, and did so.
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Originally posted by mike28nc View PostI have a good one for you. Last week we ran across a catcher that would stand in the base path making the runner run around the catcher. He doesnt have the ball but is wanting the player to slide into him so he can get the ball from the cut off and tag out the runner.
Now we have a no contact rule for the catcher. This has been up in arms in the past seasons. Catchers blocking the path from 3rd to home with out the ball. Even one kid would get on his knees on the line wanting the slide in to home and then catch the ball for the out.
Last weekend our player ran around the catcher and was safe. When I went out to get the bat, I just asked the Ump about blocking of the line. The ump told us he is required to get out of the way. If he doest then bump into him. Catcher was standing there and just smiled. Now I was some what shocked in the response from the Ump. I went back and let the team know that they go for the plate. If he has no ball then bump him. three innings later, as luck would have it. My son was on 2nd base. Gaper to right center and he was waved home. Catcher was almost 4' up the line. Bam! He bumped him and he went flying. Now in the past it was call for ejection of that game and next. Nothing happen.
question. Shouldn't the Ump warn the other team Coaches?
Mike
Bob
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Originally posted by Williamsburg2599 View PostIf a player catches the ball and falls over the wall, it is an out, right? (like if Coco had caught the A-rod HR a few days ago) He also has to come back into play before throwing the ball, right?
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Richmond Hill Phoenix said: I ask this because one time last year I was catching, and I caught the ball and planted myself about 4 feet up the line (on my knees). The runner dropped his shoulder into me, and sent me flying. The ump called him out (because I held onto the ball), but didn't throw him out because he said that I was too far up the line.
As far as fielders intentionally standing in the baseline, I'd give a warning and then toss the catcher the next time it happened, depending on the age level (some 10 year olds are clueless about this). It's particularly the case with catchers, as they're wearing armor and more likely to cause an injury.
It's a safety issue, and any kid who wants to be a smarta$$ about safety gets a seat on the bench, in my opinion.sigpicIt's not whether you fall -- everyone does -- but how you come out of the fall that counts.
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Originally posted by Ursa Major View PostAs far as fielders intentionally standing in the baseline, I'd give a warning and then toss the catcher the next time it happened, depending on the age level (some 10 year olds are clueless about this). It's particularly the case with catchers, as they're wearing armor and more likely to cause an injury.Last edited by jbooth; 04-26-2007, 11:29 AM.
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Originally posted by Richmond Hill Phoenix View PostI guess a logical next question is this: How far off the baseline is too far? I've always heard coaches scream "He's off the line!" but how wide is the path?
7.08
Any runner is out when --
(a) (1) He runs more than three feet away from his baseline to avoid being tagged unless his action is to avoid interference with a fielder fielding a batted ball. A runner’s baseline is established when the tag attempt occurs and is a straight line from the runner to the base he is attempting to reach safely;
It is NOT the line from one base to another. He can deviate 3 feet to either side of the line between where he is, and the base he is heading toward. The old wording of the rule was not as clear.
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Originally posted by Richmond Hill Phoenix View PostAlright, cool. I never really knew that actual rule to it.
For this rule, I expect there will be quite a large grey area. Tough to make a call on an exact distance from an invisible line, get my drift?
The call is easy when the fielder is exactly on the runner's path and when he steps and reaches to tag the runner he misses. A step and a reach is usually at least three feet, so if he is on the path and misses with a step and reach, the runner has probably gone more than 3 feet. Call the out.
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Originally posted by Charger567 View PostI got one:
If a batter hits an easy double play ball with a runner on first, is the batter allowed to quickly run straight out of the base path, getting himself out while eliminating the force play at second?
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