Obstruction at Home Plate

[Bullbuck]

My catcher was called for obstruction at home plate on what I think was a misapplication of the rule.

Runner on second and ball hit to outfield, left-center I think. The catcher positions herself adjacent to the plate, but directly in between home and third. I acknowledge that is incorrect.

The ball was thrown as the runner was somewhere between third and home and the throw was such that it would have moved the catcher into the base path if she wasn't already there. The catcher caught the ball in the originally improper position and tagged the base runner before she touched home. The obstruction call by the umpire, however, resulted in the runner being safe.

The umpire's explanation was the by setting up incorrectly initially, the catcher's position was tainted and by definition impeded the runner. My argument to the umpire was that, even though the catcher may have lined up incorrectly, the throw a foot or two up the baseline "cured" any impropriety in her initial positioning. In other words, by having to be in the initially incorrect position to field the thrown ball, she became entitled to possess that spot by the throw. Also, the runner was in no way impeded by where the catcher originally positioned herself and the throw beat the runner to the spot.

If she set up in the correct position and then went into the baseline with the throw, that would be proper. The question is, did her "pre-positioning" herself in that spot, which didn't cause the runner to slow down, create obstruction?

Thanks.

David Wolfe
Poland Pride 12U

 

[Comp]

Except for NCAA that has the about to receive rule, no defensive player is ever entitled to any position on the field unless they are in physical possession of the ball or making a play on a batted ball. If the runner was impeded by the location of your catcher and the catcher was not in possession of the ball, it is obstruction.

 

[FastBat]

If I'm reading this correctly, I think you can liken this situation to a first basemen who "zones out" a little and starts to watch the outfielders field the ball and forgets to move out of the baseline. This would cause a baserunner to slow herself to avoid a collision with the defensive player...causing obstruction.

 

[BretMan2]

The obstruction rules apply equally at all bases. There's nothing special about it happening at home plate versus first base.

Anytime a runner is impeded or hindered by a fielder not in possession of the ball, or not in the act of fielding a batted ball, it is obstruction. Being hindered or impeded could include slowing down, stopping, going around, or running into the fielder. Contact is not necessary for it to be obstruction.

 

[DW@SBC]

The obstruction rules apply equally at all bases. There's nothing special about it happening at home plate versus first base.

Anytime a runner is impeded or hindered by a fielder not in possession of the ball, or not in the act of fielding a batted ball, it is obstruction. Being hindered or impeded could include slowing down, stopping, going around, or running into the fielder. Contact is not necessary for it to be obstruction.

Is this obstruction? The facebook link is a link to the video.

https://www.facebook.com/dale.weiser.5/videos/1382473031779365/

 

[BretMan2]

The Facebook video won't let me open it.

The still shot doesn't have enough info to make this call. In the picture, the catcher apparently has possession of the ball. They can block the plate all day long once they have the ball. You need to see what happened BEFORE they got the ball.

 

[okiedad1961]

Seen a lot of this w no call,girls not set up at bag w/o ball.Without injuring anyone ,should you run naturally to bag to show obstruction ,thinking if you go under or around your reducing the chance for call

 

[DW@SBC]

Ok I uploaded it to Youtube. Just looking for an answer for future training of my catcher daughter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Zt_uiwa7VE

 

[BretMan2]

Obstruction requires two elements: A fielder without the ball and for the runner to actually be impeded or hindered in some fashion.

I don't see how the runner was impeded here. The ball arrived well ahead of the runner. I didn't see the runner slow down or alter her path before the fielder received the ball.

Yes, at some point here the catcher was blocking the plate, but that alone isn't enough to get an obstruction call.

 

[DW@SBC]

Obstruction requires two elements: A fielder without the ball and for the runner to actually be impeded or hindered in some fashion.

I don't see how the runner was impeded here. The ball arrived well ahead of the runner. I didn't see the runner slow down or alter her path before the fielder received the ball.

Yes, at some point here the catcher was blocking the plate, but that alone isn't enough to get an obstruction call.

Thanks for your input.