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12 replies

obstruction from a bunt

T taj9dadMember
Hi Umps,

I'm still learning so any clarification is appreciated... With runners on 1st and 2nd, my son made a bunt (RH batter) and the ball landed about 4 ft from the home plate toward the pitcher. For the first 20 ft, he ran inside the chalk line (fair territory) and the rest right about on the chalk line. The catcher made a throw straight down to 1st base to what seemed to be a bit short, as it hit my son's cleat just as he reached 1st base. With no objection from both team and homeplate ump, about 15 seconds later, the field umpire ruled that he had obstructed the play and called him out. After the game and in discrete, I asked the field umpire what was the rule that he used to make the call (he doesn't know that it was my son, as I just want to learn the game). He told me that after the first 30 feet, the runner must move outside of the chalk line (foul territory) so as to not obstruct the throw from the catcher to 1st baseman. I thank him and left. To now, I still couldn't find any reference to this rule at all.

So, my question is: is there such a rule? Was the play legal?

yes - the game was a HS varsity game
no - I'm not the HS team coach (but I'm one of the coaches in the league)

Thanks!
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F 3FingeredGlove1,000+ posts
Yes, there is such a rule, in NFHS, NCAA, and OBR rules. The NFHS rule is 8-4-1g:

g. he runs outside the three-foot running lane (last half of the distance from home plate to first base), while the ball is being fielded or thrown to first base; or
1. This infraction is ignored if it is to avoid a fielder who is attempting to field the batted ball or if the act does not interfere with a fielder or a throw.
2. The batter runner is considered outside the running lane lines if either foot is outside either line.

The umpire in your situation must have judged that the B/R was outside the lane.

NFHS rules are different to the other two codes. OBR and NCAA have the runner out only if he is outside the lane and interferes with taking of a throw. Those rule sets don't include "fielding the ball."

In general, the catcher needs to make a quality throw (otherwise there is no interference) but a low throw is still pickable. Finally, the B/R does have to touch the base, so he is entitled to come across the lane at the last moment.
T taj9dadMember
Thanks! I did read up on this rule, but it didn't say anything about 30/60 ft, and it also referred to the situation that the B/R runs outside the 3-ft running lane. In this play though, he ran straight down the chalked line.

Perhaps like you said, the field umpire judged that he ran outside the line, which is why he made the call. This leads me to the next question: how would you tell a bunter to run so as to avoid the obstruction?
Bulldog 19Bulldog 195,000+ posts
quote:
how would you tell a bunter to run so as to avoid the obstruction?


[sarcasm]Run to the fence in foul territory and then back toward the base. Maybe you'll get lucky they'll throw it away.[/sarcasm]

A right-handed bunter is almost screwed if he does not bunt the ball a good distance away from the plate. He is "out of the baseline" between home and first if he takes a direct path to first base out of the batter's box.
Jimmy03Jimmy031,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by taj9dad:
In this play though, he ran straight down the chalked line.

This leads me to the next question: how would you tell a bunter to run so as to avoid the obstruction?


No offense, but it is doubtful that he ran straight down the line, step after step, one foot directly in front of the other. The proper interpretation is that if one foot is out of the lane the runner is out of the lane.

What would I tell a bunter to do? Run in foul territory.
T taj9dadMember
----------------------
He is "out of the baseline" between home and first if he takes a direct path to first base out of the batter's box.

---------------------

This is exactly what he did.

I like the suggestion that after bunting (I know, far away from the plate as possible without handling the ball to in-fielders), he should head toward 1st using foul territory. This seems to least obstruct the throw from just about any in-fielder.

By the way, what does "The 30/60 is LL." means?

Thanks.
Jimmy03Jimmy031,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Bulldog 19:
While going to foul territory is ideal (and makes sense) for a runner that's probably a good couple tenths of a second since it takes him away from the base. That doesn't make sense.


He needn't and shouldn't side step to foul territory immediately. The rule doesn't apply until the final 45'. All a RH batter needs to do is fun at a very slight angle and reach foul territory at the 45' line. This will not add any measurable time for the average ballplayer.

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