Question on proper umpire mechanics

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I have a question about the proper umpire mechanics relative to a call of obstruction. Suppose three different situations and assume an actual instance of obstruction in all three. In each case, what calls should be made by which umpires?

Case #1: Two umpire team. No one on base. Batter-runner hits what is in all likelihood a triple into the right-center gap. As she rounds second, she runs into the SS, but manages to continue on to third where she is tagged by the 3B, who has received the throw from the relay.

Case #2: Fewer than two outs. Two umpire team. Runner on second. Batter hits a single to the outfield, deep enough to score the runner. As the runner comes to the plate, the catcher (who is not in possession of the ball) blocks her off the plate, catches the ball, and applies the tag. What are the proper calls and in what order?

Case #3: Assume everything in #2, except there are two outs.

Should the umpire in case #1, #2, or #3 make a call of "out" and then indicate the runner is "safe" or awarded the base because of obstruction?

Thanks for the help . . .

 

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case 1: unless decided differently in their pregame - field ump follows the runner around the bases. At contact or the occurance of obstruction, field ump indicates the obstruction with a delay-deadball signal (hand in a fist - arm straight out to the side). Typically, it is their call, though either ump can make the call. R1 is protected to 3rd. Umpires may award home if ihis/her sole judgement the runner would have made it.

case 2: most sanctioning bodies have adopted basically the same language in which the ball must be in the possession of the fielder before the base may be blocked. Plate umpire should make this call, unless he/she has been pulled to 3rd and the field ump takes over coverage of the plate

The number of outs makes no difference.

We make the call as though the obstruction didnt take place, then apply the call.

 

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There are a lot of "what if's" in your 3 examples, so it would be really hard to give you a full answer, but I'll touch on them a little.

Case #1
If the umpire made the obstruction call, and felt she would have made it to 3rd without the obstruction, she would be safe.

Case #2
Again, if the umpire felt she was obstructed at the plate, she would be safe. ?That is the judgement call of the umpire, and nothing can be said if he doesn't call it that way.

Case #3
Same as in #2

If the field umpire has the obstruction call, then the home plate umpire would have to call the girl out and then when the umpire's discuss the obstruction, then they could reverse the call.

 

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Case #1: At the moment the runner is obstructed, the umpire should give the delayed dead ball signal (left fist extended) and verbally announce "obstruction". Obstruction may be called by either umpire who sees the infraction.

If the runner is tagged out before reaching the base the umpire judges she would have reached minus the obstruction, the umpire should call "dead ball" (not call "out&quot and then award the runner third base.

Case #2: Same calls.

Signal and announce the obstruction, announce dead ball on the tag, award the runner home.

Case #3: Same answer as #2.

The number of outs has no bearing on the obstruction call or the award.

(Added: Looks like Dave, Lady Knights and I were posting at the same time and have basically given you the same answer. There might be some "what-ifs", variables to consider or assumptions to be made to judge these plays "sight unseen", but you should get the basic premise.)

 

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Thanks for the responses. My wife and I were wondering about this question on a ride back from a tournament this afternoon. Just to be clear, no questions of obstruction came up at this tournament. And we are both clear on most aspects of the obstruction rule. The question for us, and answered by David Anderson, is whether the umpire calls the play as though no obstruction had occurred and then apply the rules regarding obstruction.

But two questions remain: 1) what is the explanation for making the call as though no obstruction occurred and then applying the obstruction rule? This is particularly germane in cases where the umpire making the call on the tag is also calling obstruction. And in the case of the play at the plate with two outs, where is the batter-runner placed? This seems to us germane, since on the "out" call, the batter-runner would assuredly assume there were then 3 outs and simply stop running, when she might go to the next base, if the "out" call isn't made.

 

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The answer to your follow-up questions lies in the fact that these ARE NOT called "exactly" the same as an unobstructed play.

When the obstructed runner is tagged out, the ball becomes dead. That is the big difference between these obstruction plays and plays without obstruction where the ball remains live.

As for any other runners, they are placed on whichever bases the umpire judges necessary to negate the effects of the obstruction. That can depend on a few things.

On your play at the plate example, if the obstructed runner was tagged out before the batter-runner reached first, she would likely be placed on first base.

If she had just rounded first and was still closer to that base, she would probably still be placed at first.

If she was more than half-way to second, she can be awarded second.

Where other runners are placed is solely umpire judgement. There's no "cast in stone" standard base award, so that can be one of the variables on these plays.