Interferrence/Obstruction question

[default]

At an NSA tourney this past weekend and witnessed this call at least 3 times in different games.

Runners on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, 2 outs, batter hits a high line drive which lands in short center field. Runner on 3rd goes home and runner on 2nd takes off for 3rd and collides with SS about 6 feet from 2nd base - this runner is called out because Ump said SS was trying to make the play. Argued that the defensive player needed to be in the act of fielding the ball in order for our runner to be out.

2nd time this happened, runner on 1st took off for 2nd (to steal), batter hit the ball very hard grounder towards 2nd baseman who was playing deep well behind the base path, runner jumps to avoid being hit by the ball (no contact with ball) Ump calls her out for interfering with the defensive player (who did not have any trouble fielding the ball). Argued that the runner did all she could to avoid being hit and didn't impede the fielder at all.

3rd time this occurred, runner on 2nd was running past SS who was directly in the base path and who was not fielding the ball (ball was hit to right field).....no collision or touching that could be seen.....Ump called her out because she brushed past her. After arguing it for 2nd time, he said the rule was changed this year and no offensive runner can have contact with a defensive player at all at any time.

I have looked in the NSA rules and rule changes, and I have read a ton of old posts on this subject matter, but couldn't find any scenarios that were close or anything about new changes to this rule.

Can anyone advise if there has been a rule change and if this is the right call.

Thanks.

 

[default]

'Sounds like you got hosed X 3.

 

[default]

After arguing it for 2nd time, he said the rule was changed this year and no offensive runner can have contact with a defensive player at all at any time.

Um . . . I haven't read NSA rules in a long time but I can't imagine they have a rule that allows the first baseman to impede the progress of the runner by standing where the runner needs to be when she makes the turn to second. And sadly, usually the only way to get the obstruction call in this situation is to make contact with the first baseman.

As for your scenarios, it sounds like you had solid arguments, but maybe Blue saw something you did not. I'll be interested to see if Bretman responds.

 

[default]

I had a senerio this weekend in NSA that I questioned also with respect to obstruction. A runner on 2nd makes contact with my 3rd baseman ( I didn't see the contact so thats not my gripe) but without attempting to advance home, she was awarded home. I have always been of the mindset that the next base needs to be attempted and then a judgement call comes into play and that she is "protected" between the bases that she was obstructed. Again, I didn't see the contact so I don't know if it was before or after 3rd. By the way, I found the NSA umps in Akron for the most part very gruff and not very approachable with questions on rulings. Some were OK but for the most part they acted as if everyone was there to watch them.

 

[default]

Um . . . I haven't read NSA rules in a long time but I can't imagine they have a rule that allows the first baseman to impede the progress of the runner by standing where the runner needs to be when she makes the turn to second. And sadly, usually the only way to get the obstruction call in this situation is to make contact with the first baseman.

As for your scenarios, it sounds like you had solid arguments, but maybe Blue saw something you did not. I'll be interested to see if Bretman responds.

I used this argument the last time it happened when the Ump told me it was a new rule that no runner could have contact with a defensive player under any circumstance......I said so the 1st baseman can stand on the bag saying "someone might throw the ball to me"!!

 

[default]

2nd case - Our team got called on this in an ASA game this year. Umpire told me in between innings that his opinion was that the runner tried to interfere and caused the fielder to have her sight blocked. Next day the situation was reversed and I didn't get the same ruling....hmmmmm

3rd case you got hosed.

 

[default]

Can you PM or e-mail me with more details like time/field number/day? I would like to have the tournament UIC gather more information and address this.

Speaking of which, did you ask to speak to the tournament UIC (umpire in charge) after the game? Those are judgment calls and can not be reversed, but if someone has their wires crossed on interference//obstruction, we need to be aware of this so additional training can be given to eliminate this confusion on the future.

All of our tournaments have some sort of supervising umpire or head official there. It might be the TD if they are a sanctioned NSA ump or another qualified umpire, but they are there on site for this kind of item.

The Akron umps fall under different jurisdiction than me. I would suggest contacting the Northern Ohio State office to get some kind of clarification.

At an NSA tourney this past weekend and witnessed this call at least 3 times in different games.

Runners on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, 2 outs, batter hits a high line drive which lands in short center field. Runner on 3rd goes home and runner on 2nd takes off for 3rd and collides with SS about 6 feet from 2nd base - this runner is called out because Ump said SS was trying to make the play. Argued that the defensive player needed to be in the act of fielding the ball in order for our runner to be out.

2nd time this happened, runner on 1st took off for 2nd (to steal), batter hit the ball very hard grounder towards 2nd baseman who was playing deep well behind the base path, runner jumps to avoid being hit by the ball (no contact with ball) Ump calls her out for interfering with the defensive player (who did not have any trouble fielding the ball). Argued that the runner did all she could to avoid being hit and didn't impede the fielder at all.

3rd time this occurred, runner on 2nd was running past SS who was directly in the base path and who was not fielding the ball (ball was hit to right field).....no collision or touching that could be seen.....Ump called her out because she brushed past her. After arguing it for 2nd time, he said the rule was changed this year and no offensive runner can have contact with a defensive player at all at any time.

I have looked in the NSA rules and rule changes, and I have read a ton of old posts on this subject matter, but couldn't find any scenarios that were close or anything about new changes to this rule.

Can anyone advise if there has been a rule change and if this is the right call.

Thanks.

 

[default]

Did you get my PM Mike?

 

[default]

Yes and I forwarded the information onto the UIC for the tournament. I am sure it will take him a day or two to get input from the officials that were on the field during those games. Thanks!

 

[default]

At an NSA tourney this past weekend and witnessed this call at least 3 times in different games.

Runners on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, 2 outs, batter hits a high line drive which lands in short center field. Runner on 3rd goes home and runner on 2nd takes off for 3rd and collides with SS about 6 feet from 2nd base - this runner is called out because Ump said SS was trying to make the play. Argued that the defensive player needed to be in the act of fielding the ball in order for our runner to be out.

2nd time this happened, runner on 1st took off for 2nd (to steal), batter hit the ball very hard grounder towards 2nd baseman who was playing deep well behind the base path, runner jumps to avoid being hit by the ball (no contact with ball) Ump calls her out for interfering with the defensive player (who did not have any trouble fielding the ball). Argued that the runner did all she could to avoid being hit and didn't impede the fielder at all.

3rd time this occurred, runner on 2nd was running past SS who was directly in the base path and who was not fielding the ball (ball was hit to right field).....no collision or touching that could be seen.....Ump called her out because she brushed past her. After arguing it for 2nd time, he said the rule was changed this year and no offensive runner can have contact with a defensive player at all at any time.

I have looked in the NSA rules and rule changes, and I have read a ton of old posts on this subject matter, but couldn't find any scenarios that were close or anything about new changes to this rule.

Can anyone advise if there has been a rule change and if this is the right call.

Thanks.

Scenario #1 - ball has already cleared the infielders so the only interference can happen with an outfielder at that point. There is no judgment call here, just the proper interpretation of the rule.

Scenario #2 - judgment does come into play here IMHO, but since the fielder was able to field the ball cleanly there is NO call to be made. I have seen this called when the fielder muffs the play, but never when they execute it. Poor umpiring IMO.

Scenario #3 - You plain and simple got hosed. Once again there is no judgment call involved, the defensive player could have been hit with obstruction if anything.

You didn't happen to be playing the host team during these incidents? This could be a simple case of "home-cooking".

 

[default]

Home cooking seems unlikely to me. (not impossible however) Umps aren't hired by the host team. (at least not in NSA) Further, I personally couldn't care less who is playing, I just try to do my best. Always amuses me (insults me too) when I hear parents whining about how the umps are deliberately hosing their team. Any hosing is purely accidental.

That said, doesn't sound like you got the right call in any of those cases, but of course I didn't see them.

No new rules regarding obstruction/interference lately.

 

[default]

Thanks for letting me know that the rule has not been changed, I was still looking.

Oh well, another weekend of softball! So far it seems that each weekend is a new rule to drill everyone on. Weekend before was the tape on a bat. Had to wrap 4 or 5 bats with medical tape because of small frayed places and an extremely small area of silver showing between the padding.......I couldn't even find it at first, the ump had to keep pointing at it so I knew where it was. LOL 2 of the bats were only practice ones so we had to take them to the parents because they weren't allowed to remain in the dugout.

It's all for the love of softball!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[default]

After arguing it for 2nd time, he said the rule was changed this year and no offensive runner can have contact with a defensive player at all at any time.

Most often, when the explanation finally gets around to '"it's a new rule this year", what you are getting is the umpire version of "the check's in the mail".

There is no such rule or rule change.

 

[default]

Home cooking seems unlikely to me. (not impossible however) Umps aren't hired by the host team. (at least not in NSA) Further, I personally couldn't care less who is playing, I just try to do my best. Always amuses me (insults me too) when I hear parents whining about how the umps are deliberately hosing their team. Any hosing is purely accidental.

That said, doesn't sound like you got the right call in any of those cases, but of course I didn't see them.

No new rules regarding obstruction/interference lately.

This made my day.