What is the call? Is there a call?

I had a similar situation last year. Opposing shortstop would kind of grab on to the runner from behind. HP ump is focused on pitcher, B ump has his back to 2nd base. So next time the SS did it, my runner took off towards third and fell on purpose. That caught HP umpires eye and he called interference and gave the runner third base.

It isn't guaranteed to work, but if it happens after you've already asked the umpires to keep an eye on the SS it will probably get called. Also, a fastball to the hip next time the SS comes up to bat sends a message, without endangering anyone.

OB1 posted:

Runner on 2B, SS and 2B cycling back and forth holding runner on. Every time the SS rushes back to take fielding position he slaps runner on the back or butt. 

Is this illegal?  

I called time and told the ump, frankly, I have a team full of some guys who are a little rough and redneck so I’m afraid SS is going to incite a bench clearing brawl, school we are playing is a district rival in every other sport (we’ve not really be competitive enough to be a rival in baseball until this year). Ump goes to SS and warns him (I guess). So now every time he comes by on his way to position he jumps and slaps his glove over runners head or literally by his head in his ear. 

I know it’s wrong but I found myself wishing he’d catch a non body damaging line drive to the nads or kneecap.

Anyway, is there an interference call to the fielder that should have been called? Unsportsmanlike like conduct after warning?

Warning for USC the first time, then ejection (and I will eject even if he's doing the slap without touching.) If his coach comes out to argue (and I mean actually argue, not just pretend) he's getting an extremely short rope. The chances of him defending the behavior without giving me a valid reason to end his day are slim-to-none.

senorcoach posted:

I had a similar situation last year. Opposing shortstop would kind of grab on to the runner from behind. HP ump is focused on pitcher, B ump has his back to 2nd base. So next time the SS did it, my runner took off towards third and fell on purpose. That caught HP umpires eye and he called interference and gave the runner third base.

It isn't guaranteed to work, but if it happens after you've already asked the umpires to keep an eye on the SS it will probably get called. Also, a fastball to the hip next time the SS comes up to bat sends a message, without endangering anyone.

Obstruction, not interference. But anyway...

PU should not have tunnel vision. I can see what a pitcher is doing as well as what is going on with R2. 

Matt13 posted:

senorcoach posted:

I had a similar situation last year. Opposing shortstop would kind of grab on to the runner from behind. HP ump is focused on pitcher, B ump has his back to 2nd base. So next time the SS did it, my runner took off towards third and fell on purpose. That caught HP umpires eye and he called interference and gave the runner third base.

It isn't guaranteed to work, but if it happens after you've already asked the umpires to keep an eye on the SS it will probably get called. Also, a fastball to the hip next time the SS comes up to bat sends a message, without endangering anyone.

Obstruction, not interference. But anyway...

PU should not have tunnel vision. I can see what a pitcher is doing as well as what is going on with R2. 

Thanks Matt13 for the obstruction/interference clarification. As far as the tunnel vision umpires go, we play in the bottom division and our umpires are assigned accordingly. so we get the bottom of the barrel umpires. Last week I had a runner on 1st, single down the right field line, both umpires go to make the fair/foul call and neither one sees the other teams SS step in front of my lead runner as he rounds second. Runner goes down, gets back up and makes it to third without a throw. Batter makes it to second. Since both umpires were watching the ball, neither saw the collision and didn't get the call. Didn't matter since the next kid hit a three run jack, buuuuut... that's just the quality of umpires we get.

senorcoach posted:

Matt13 posted:

senorcoach posted:

I had a similar situation last year. Opposing shortstop would kind of grab on to the runner from behind. HP ump is focused on pitcher, B ump has his back to 2nd base. So next time the SS did it, my runner took off towards third and fell on purpose. That caught HP umpires eye and he called interference and gave the runner third base.

It isn't guaranteed to work, but if it happens after you've already asked the umpires to keep an eye on the SS it will probably get called. Also, a fastball to the hip next time the SS comes up to bat sends a message, without endangering anyone.

Obstruction, not interference. But anyway...

PU should not have tunnel vision. I can see what a pitcher is doing as well as what is going on with R2. 

Thanks Matt13 for the obstruction/interference clarification. As far as the tunnel vision umpires go, we play in the bottom division and our umpires are assigned accordingly. so we get the bottom of the barrel umpires. Last week I had a runner on 1st, single down the right field line, both umpires go to make the fair/foul call and neither one sees the other teams SS step in front of my lead runner as he rounds second. Runner goes down, gets back up and makes it to third without a throw. Batter makes it to second. Since both umpires were watching the ball, neither saw the collision and didn't get the call. Didn't matter since the next kid hit a three run jack, buuuuut... that's just the quality of umpires we get.

That's the kind of thing that makes my eye spasm happen.

Nothing else, my situation was Busch league at best. I was surprised the HC of opposing team let that stuff go on, he’s been HC for 23 years...but then again, earlier in the night he said he retires in 2 years and didn’t care (we were talking about some field maintenance issue ms but maybe that has carried to discipline of players as well. I hope I have people around me when I have one foot off the bus to kick my butt and make me finish well. 

Actually had a mom outside the fence giving me crap about conferencing with the ump about the situation. She just doesn’t realize I was actually concerned her little baby was tugging on Superman’s cape.