Is this Obstruction?

HTBT (had to been there)

Ouch. You're describing a "train wreck". We're looking for intentional obstruction 95% of the time. I agree with previous post in that YHTBT.

Gut feel based on what you said is NO obstruction.

I'll go out on a limb here. No Obstruction and I didn't HTBT. Runner has a clear line to the base and beyond. Runs into a stationary (my assumption) F5 outside that clear line and you want obstruction. Maybe F5 should go sit in the dugout while this is going on so that he can be certain that he will not get run into.

Who the heck is teaching kids to run like that anyway?

NavyUmp - I agree with your interpretation, and to be clear my son was on the offensive team at the time. This was a freshman HS game, and I'd never seen a kid take a path like that at third base in an attempt to score. The base ump was intimidated by our coach and made the obstruction call. U1 said he didn't see it, which I think was a cop out as it should have been his call. The kid had a clear path to third and veered out. I don't think he did it to intentionally run into F5, but that's what happened. Bizarre.

If F5 is perfectly still as R2 collides with him, I have nothing. If, however, as is more often the case, F5 takes a step toward the outfield at the time of or just before the collisionm, I have obstruction.

OBS.
The onus is on the D to let the runner run where he wants. Making a big bow prior to a base your turning is good base running. If a runner is scoring from 2nd, for him to swing 8-10' towards LF is correct, hit third pointing near directly at HP.

I'd really, really, have to be convinced the runner was really going out of his way "soley to make contact". A flop if you will.
Other than that the runner, if he's not avoiding a tag can run where "he wants".

OBS all the way, IMO.

quote:

Originally posted by jjk:
OBS.
The onus is on the D to let the runner run where he wants. Making a big bow prior to a base your turning is good base running. If a runner is scoring from 2nd, for him to swing 8-10' towards LF is correct, hit third pointing near directly at HP.

I'd really, really, have to be convinced the runner was really going out of his way "soley to make contact". A flop if you will.
Other than that the runner, if he's not avoiding a tag can run where "he wants".

OBS all the way, IMO.

If the fielder indeed stood perfectly still facing away from the play and was not denying access to a base and the runner could see him from the time he rounded second, the runner could have and should have avoided the collision. Tnis is neither the intent nor the enforcement of the obstruction rule.

That said, I have hard time visualizing the fielder being that innocent. When I see similar plays, the fielder invariably takes a step in one direction or another.

I hate the phrase, but, "had to be there", I guess.

quote:

Originally posted by jjk:
OBS.
The onus is on the D to let the runner run where he wants.

This is a ridicules statement if there is no caveats. HE can't just run anywhere and expect ot have obstruction enforced

quote:

Making a big bow prior to a base your turning is good base running.

Really? To do this the runner will be slowing down and taking additional steps. This is not taught anywhere at any level except when rounding 1B.

quote:

I'd really, really, have to be convinced the runner was really going out of his way "soley to make contact".

Just wondering, what would you need to be "really, really" convinced?

quote:
Originally posted by jjk:
OBS.
The onus is on the D to let the runner run where he wants.


This is a ridicules statement if there is no caveats. HE can't just run anywhere and expect ot have obstruction enforced

Yes he can and a good umpire will call the obs.
Your implying that F3 for example, standing just inside 1B has the right of way to make the runner go around him? Your missing the boat here, D needs to "not be" a looky lou and get out of the way.
OP; I can certainly visualize the BRer as he is nearing 3rd the 3BC see's the bobble and waves him on, the runner is watching the BC and eying the bag, he shouldn't have to look out for a day dreaming defender.

quote:
Making a big bow prior to a base your turning is good base running.


Really? To do this the runner will be slowing down and taking additional steps. This is not taught anywhere at any level except when rounding 1B.

JJK: Really.
It's taught at every level above perhaps T-ball.
The good runners, will make the bow and hit the bag with the left foot, which squares the shoulders to the next bag. It's a distance thing, why go 120' when you can go maybe 100'.
quote:

I'd really, really, have to be convinced the runner was really going out of his way "soley to make contact".

Just wondering, what would you need to be "really, really" convinced?

JJK:
Runner see's he won't score so he goes out of his way to initiate the contact. Dennis Rodman or any good s****r player, or punter could attempt to pull this off.

Sounds like a train wreck. Sounds like F5 is not close to any normal path a runner should take...bowed or straight.

Sounds like some think F5 should run away from the runner and if the runner chases and catches F5, we have obstruction.

If F5 is near any of the grass, no good runner should come close to him unless they want to intiate contact. Grass closest to HP...bow is to the other side in the dirt. Grass closest to outfield...that is a heckuva bow for a runner to get close to the outfield grass.