Obstruction Call?

First, let me say that obstruction is something the defense does, not the runner. I know it's nitpicky, but it's good to use the correct terminology for the sake of clarity.

As for this particular play, it sounds like a "had to be there" situation. Many interference and obstruction calls are tricky because there is a lot of judgment involved. So if a player questions the umpire's judgment on these calls, he better tread lightly.

quote:

Originally posted by NW Knights07:
Shortstop playing in on the grass, and on the pitch R1 breaks out of basepath and knocks over SS. Ball hit back up the middle, possibly in range if SS was unobstructed.

I have INT on the runner (I think you mean R2). He's out (possibly ejected), R3 returns, and the batter gets 1st.

I'm with Dash. The likelihood that it isn't interference is very small.

quote:

Shortstop playing in on the grass, and on the pitch R1 breaks out of basepath and knocks over SS. Ball hit back up the middle, possibly in range if SS was unobstructed. R1 scores. SS appeals for runner interference and is ejected. Could anyone clarify the ruling on this play?

seems pretty clear interference to me..........

From the description given, I would tend to agree with the interference call. But the reason I said it's a HTBT is because the infield was playing in on the grass, the ball was hit up the middle, "possibly in range". Often when the infield is playing in, the middle infielders tend to shift toward the foul lines to cover the holes and rely on the pitcher to get any balls up the middle. So the umpire might have judged that there was no possible way that F6 was going to get to the ball and was therefore not actually attempting to make a play on a batted ball.

Most times the runners will be deeper on the infield to help with the turn going around the next base. Therefore a collision between fielder / runner should never happen.

to clarify on the batted ball, it wasn't hit all that hard and deflected off the pitchers glove and slightly towards SS side of the bag. SS made a similar play earlier in the game, and would most likely have gotten to it.

SS later told me all he said to the ump was if he could get some help on the call, and was immediately tossed. Is that even close to warrenting an ejection?

quote:

Originally posted by NW Knights07:
SS later told me all he said to the ump was if he could get some help on the call, and was immediately tossed. Is that even close to warrenting an ejection?

No. However, if I had a nickel for every time a player claimed that he did one thing, but actually did another, I'd have a bunch of nickels.

quote:

Originally posted by Matt13:

quote:

Originally posted by NW Knights07:
SS later told me all he said to the ump was if he could get some help on the call, and was immediately tossed. Is that even close to warrenting an ejection?

No. However, if I had a nickel for every time a player claimed that he did one thing, but actually did another, I'd have a bunch of nickels.

Matt,

How long have you umpired? At 30 y/o and let's say umpiring since you were say 18, hopefully you don't have more than 10-15 nickles or you have an awful quick thumb.

quote:

Originally posted by Gold Glove:

quote:

Originally posted by Matt13:

quote:

Originally posted by NW Knights07:
SS later told me all he said to the ump was if he could get some help on the call, and was immediately tossed. Is that even close to warrenting an ejection?

No. However, if I had a nickel for every time a player claimed that he did one thing, but actually did another, I'd have a bunch of nickels.

Matt,

How long have you umpired? At 30 y/o and let's say umpiring since you were say 18, hopefully you don't have more than 10-15 nickles or you have an awful quick thumb.

One ejection per year is far from a sign of a quick thumb.

Jimmy0,
Is your name Matt?

Gold Glove...if you only want Matt to answer Pm him.........otherwise assume that when posting in here you get answers/responses from whomever in the crew is available......

quote:

Originally posted by NW Knights07:
SS later told me all he said to the ump was if he could get some help on the call, and was immediately tossed. Is that even close to warrenting an ejection?

Asking him to get help isn't grounds in and of itsself, how he said it or the language he used may have been.

quote:

Originally posted by Gold Glove:
Matt,

How long have you umpired? At 30 y/o and let's say umpiring since you were say 18, hopefully you don't have more than 10-15 nickles or you have an awful quick thumb.

I've been umpiring since I was 15. I don't keep track of how many ejections I've had. If I had to guess, probably somewhere around 25. Every single one was warranted (and probably at least as many that I passed.)

FWIW, nickels was not in reference to ejections. I cannot tell you how many times I've overheard players say something to their coaches that was selective, at best, regarding what actually transpired.

That's a little over one a year, not bad for all of the **** you guys hear.

quote:

Originally posted by Gold Glove:
That's a little over one a year, not bad for all of the **** you guys hear.

Many newer umpires try to figure out if they eject too much or not enough. There is no rule of thumb, other than each situation needs to be dealt with individually. I've had seasons without any, and I've had games where I've had multiple ejections.

It's also relative--when I was 15 and doing LL, the standards were different than now doing college and semi-pro.