Two questions

Part 1

Rule 7.06 Obstruction on the runner. Call time, dead ball and runner advances beyond...

1. First of all, it's obstruction, not interference.

FED Rules. The ball remains live (delayed dead if you must) until all playing action stops. The umpire then calls time and awards the obstructed runner (and other runners affected) the bases they would have achieved had there been no obstruction. The obstructed runner is awarded at least one base beyond the base he had legally achieved when the obstruction occurred. In your example, the runner on 3rd would be awarded home. If the obstructed runner advances beyond the base he would have been awarded under the penalty, the obstruction is ignored and the ball remains live. The obstructed runner is at risk of being put out if he advances beyond his "award" base.

In NCAA there are two types of obstruction. Type 1 is when a play is not being made on the obstructed runner. The ball remains live until play stops, and the umpire will award any bases that are justified (including none). Type 2 is when a play is being made on the obstructed runner. Ball remains live until play stops, ump makes the same base awards except the obstructed runner is awarded a minimum of one base beyond the base he had legally acquired when the obstruction occurred. In both types, if the obstructed runner advances beyond his "award" base, he does so at the risk of being put out.

OBR is similar to NCAA except the types are reversed. Type A (play being made on the obstructed runner) ball is immediately dead and the ump awards bases to nullify the act of obstruction. The obstructed runner gets the same one base minimum as NCAA Type 2. Type B (no play being made on the obstructed runner), ball remains live until all play stops, ump then calls time and awards bases to nullify the act (including no base award). As in NCAA, same risk of being put out if the obstructed runner advances beyond his "award" base.

2. Had to be there. If he's not stopping, then I don't think it's a balk. Once he stops, he must deliver a pitch, throw or feint to a base or step off - one more "bounce" and he's balked. Is this guy related to Luis Tiant?

Part 2

I'm still trying to picture this, but it sounds like a balk. Does it look more than heavy breathing?

Thanks guys.

So basically in my first example (I couldn't remember if it was obstruction or interference) I would be wrong and my coach is correct?

Not sure where I got they are protected just going back to the base they were going.

As for the balk - it is a had to be there because I doubt I could explain it enough to give you guys enough information. I told him to not do it because it does open the door for an umpire to call a balk. Please don't take this as a criticism of umpires but something in the grey area such as this I don't want to give a bad umpire the rope to hang my team.

In all honesty I think a good ump would not balk it but you don't know for certain at the high school level what kind of ump you get good or bad.

I told him to come set and leave it be.

Your coach had it right. Award the runner home.

In your obstruction question Dash has it right, award the next base.
On your balk question, it sounds like he is making three stops but in a continuous motion and is probably OK but I like your thought of not giving an ump something to pick on. I see nothing wrong with pushing the envelope but when it gets to an spot of grey that is sometimes balked and sometimes not then he needs to stop doing it. This way you don't get in a big game and get banged at a bad time. Sounds like good coaching to me.

quote:

On your balk question, it sounds like he is making three stops but in a continuous motion and is probably OK

3 stops is not continuous motion. It's a balk at stop #2.

Louis Tiant? Old time Red Sox pitcher. Sounds like that is what is going on. He got away with it for years. But if you don't need to push the envelope, don't push it. Good advice.

TW344

quote:

Originally posted by TW344:
Louis Tiant? Old time Red Sox pitcher. Sounds like that is what is going on. He got away with it for years. But if you don't need to push the envelope, don't push it. Good advice.

TW344

He was around long before MLB started cracking down on that stuff and was unofficially "grandfathered" from the interpretation. No one else could get away with "El Tiante's" stretch.

What a great competitor. Played for a bunch of teams but his best years were with the Sox.