Runner collides with catcher

If the fielder has the ball he is allowed to block the base at any point along it. If the runner is too far away from the plate to slide he needs to give up or try to go around. Stress the try to get around, there can be contact. What he can not do is try to dislodge the ball or maliciously contact the fielder. If he commits MC then he is out and is ejected. Now if the catcher steps in front of the runner and the runner has no time or ability to alter his path you have to umpire that. Bear in mind that one umpire will say MC, the next may not, depending on circumstances and time involved. A video clip would be useful. We had one on another board the other day and the catcher stepped in front at the last second trying to catch the ball, which he missed. Some guys had MC, some didn't.

We had the play last night. Play at the plate. Catcher comes up the line to catch the ball as the runner was going home. About 8 feet from home up the third baseline. Catcher didn't have the ball. Runner used his football skills and dropped his shoulder to protect himself/possibly punish the catcher. MC. We thought that if he didn't drop his shoulder he would have been safe. It was a bang bang play in that the catcher ran at the runner and zigged right in front of the runner at the last minute trying to get a bead on the thrown ball. We couldn't tell what the coach and ump were arguing about, but the ump dipped his shoulder during the discussion after the play and we think that was the reason for the MC.

quote:

Originally posted by Doughnutman:
We had the play last night. Play at the plate. Catcher comes up the line to catch the ball as the runner was going home. About 8 feet from home up the third baseline. Catcher didn't have the ball. Runner used his football skills and dropped his shoulder to protect himself/possibly punish the catcher. MC. We thought that if he didn't drop his shoulder he would have been safe. It was a bang bang play in that the catcher ran at the runner and zigged right in front of the runner at the last minute trying to get a bead on the thrown ball. We couldn't tell what the coach and ump were arguing about, but the ump dipped his shoulder during the discussion after the play and we think that was the reason for the MC.

Sounds like obstruction, but malicious contact would supersede the OBS penalty.