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Nickname:
Rich__742
Posts: 37
Member Since: 10/22/06
Posted: 10/13/2009 2:03pm
Views: 235
Replies: 2
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Obstruction at 1st base
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I coach first base for my son's travel team. I often see 1st baseman that with a runner at 1b straddle the bag, or when the pitcher picks will drop a knee and block the runners path back to the base.
I got into it with a base umpire this weekend when our guy got picked off because the 1st baseman was blocking the base path long before he had the ball.
The umpire claimed the ball took him there and he is entitle to the base path, I think that he has bad technique and is going to get his leg broken.
What is the correct interpretation?
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Nickname:
bobjenkins
Posts: 1725
Member Since: 5/10/00
Posted: 10/14/2009 6:40am
Views: 230
Replies: 0
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Re: Obstruction at 1st base
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It depends on the rules code being used.
OBR: F3 can block* the base if the play is imminent (usually interpreted as F1 has released the throw).
FED and NCAA: Cannot block* the base until the ball is caught. Further, in FED if the runner has access to part of the base, the play is legal even if F3 has not yet caught the ball.
Youth leagues: Varies.
* -- Note that "block" referes not only to the fielder's actions, but also the result of the actions causing R1 to stop short of the base.
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Nickname:
Pete_Booth
Posts: 4786
Member Since: 4/24/00
Posted: 10/14/2009 1:22pm
Views: 223
Replies: 1
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Re: Obstruction at 1st base
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I think that he has bad technique and is going to get his leg broken.
The aforementioned maybe true but be careful if you are playing by FED rules.
Bob gave you an explanation for the various rule codes. HOWEVER in FED even if the runner is obstructed does not give said runner "carte blanch" to maliciously contact the fielder.
In FED MC Trumps OBS.
Therfore, using your example; If F3 Blocked the ENTIRE base and R1 came crashing in with spikes raised high and broke F3's leg, R1 even though he was obstructed would be guilty of MC. He would be declared out and ejected.
The punishment for most states is an automatic one game suspension but depending upon the nature of the MC could be more.
Pete Booth
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Nickname:
oldhardballer
Posts: 1046
Member Since: 9/10/01
Posted: 10/15/2009 8:24pm
Views: 202
Replies: 1
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Re: Obstruction at 1st base
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Pete, I have seen this happen too many times and usually by position players at first who are built more like linebackers than F3s. I know for sure they are coached to do this and all too often they get away with it because of the fact the runners dont want to make contact. There has to be a more consistant measuring device then the one you just described. I, in umpiring will often remind the F3 of his responsibility if his technique is blocking. Of course, I always tell the coach too. Don
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Nickname:
Pete_Booth
Posts: 4786
Member Since: 4/24/00
Posted: 10/16/2009 6:16am
Views: 199
Replies: 1
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Re: Obstruction at 1st base
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I know for sure they are coached to do this and all too often they get away with it because of the fact the runners dont want to make contact. There has to be a more consistant measuring device then the one you just described.
The umpire needs to his/her job. F3 cannot BLOCK the entire base by getting down on one knee.
The MAIN reason this rule was put into effect was because of a first basemen who played for the university of Texas named Ontevarous if memory serves. He was a BIG man and Texas had many pick-offs that year and the teams starting complaining.
At that time the OBS rule was more in line with the PRO rule meaning if F3 was in the act of making a play perfectly legal.
NCAA was the fore-front in changing the OBS rule. Then LL, other youth leagues and FED "got on board" and adopted the NCAA language meaning a fielder has to have ACTUAL possession of the ball before they can block the base.
Now in FED as Bob J eluded to unlike LL, as long as the runner has SOME access to the base there is no OBS.
The bottom line is that umpires need to do their job and start calling OBS because as mentioned in FED MC supercedes OBS.
If coaches are in fact teaching this practice they are doing an injustice to the game and more important are 'setting-up" F3 to get hurt someday.
Pete Booth
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Nickname:
oldhardballer
Posts: 1046
Member Since: 9/10/01
Posted: 10/16/2009 7:22am
Views: 198
Replies: 0
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Re: Obstruction at 1st base
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Pete, ty for the update. I agree. Don
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