OBSTRUCTION

1
OBSTRUCTION INTERFERNCE

• Yes there is a difference.

2
Umpire Eye Test Part I
SAY THE COLOR OF THE CIRCLE AS FAST AS YOU CAN
3
Umpire Eye Test Part II
SAY THE COLOR OF THE WORD YELLOW ORANGE
BLUE BLACK GREEN RED
YELLOW PURPLE RED ORANGE GREEN
YELLOW
4
Rules of Thumb

• On a batted ball, the fielder has the
  right-of-way over the runner.
• On a thrown ball, the runner has the
  right-of-way over the fielder.
• A runner always makes his own base path.

5
Two Man Rotation
No Runner on Base Extra Base Hit to the Outfield
6
Rules of Thumb

• When a fielder and a runner collide, one of three
  things has occurred
• Obstruction
• Interference
• Train Wreck (everybody is doing what they are
  supposed to be doing)

7
OBSTRUCTION- as defined by MLB

• OBSTRUCTION is the act of a fielder who, while
  not in possession of the ball and not in the act
  of fielding the ball, impedes the progress of any
  runner.

8
OBSTRUCTION- re-defined for LL in 2007.

• OBSTRUCTION is the act of a fielder who, while
  not in possession of the ball, impedes the
  progress of any runner. A fake tag is considered
  obstruction. (NOTE Obstruction shall be called
  on a defensive player who blocks off a base,
  baseline or home plate from a base runner while
  not in possession of the ball.)

9
OBSTRUCTION - types

• Type A a runner is obstructed while a play is
  being made on him.
• Type B a runner is obstructed when no play is
  being made on him.

10
OBSTRUCTION - penalties

• TYPE A - If a play is being made on the
  obstructed runner, or if the batter-runner is
  obstructed before touching first base, the ball
  is dead and all runners shall advance without
  liability to be put out, to the bases they would
  have reached, in the umpire's judgment, if there
  had been no obstruction. The obstructed runner
  shall be awarded at least one base beyond the
  base last legally touched by such runner, before
  the obstruction.

11
OBSTRUCTION - penalties

• TYPE B the umpire shall impose such penalties,
  if any, as in that umpire's judgment will nullify
  the act of obstruction. (NOTE 1 When the ball is
  not dead on obstruction and an obstructed runner
  advances beyond the base which, in the umpire's
  judgment, the runner would have been awarded
  because of being obstructed, the runner does so
  at his/her own risk and may be tagged out, This
  is a judgment call.)

12
INTERFERENCE - types

• Offensive Interference
• Defensive Interference
• Umpire Interference
• Spectator/Other Interference
• On any interference call the ball is dead (with
  one exception)

13
INTERFERENCE - types

• (a) Offensive interference is an act by a member
  of the team at bat which interferes with,
  obstructs, impedes, hinders or confuses any
  fielder attempting to make a play. (13 subtypes)

14
INTERFERENCE - types

• (b) Defensive interference is an act by a fielder
  which hinders or prevents a batter from hitting a
  pitch. (Typically this is catchers
  interference.)

15
INTERFERENCE - penalties

• OFFENSE - The interfering runner is out and all
  other runners shall return to the last base that
  was, in the judgment of the umpire, legally
  touched at the time of the interference, unless
  otherwise provided by these rules.

16
(No Transcript)
17
(No Transcript)
18
(No Transcript)
19
(No Transcript)
20
(No Transcript)
21
(No Transcript)
22
(No Transcript)
23
INTERFERENCE - penalties

• DEFENSE - the catcher or any fielder interferes
  with the batter. If a play follows the
  interference, the manager of the offense may
  advise the plate umpire of a decision to decline
  the interference penalty and accept the play.
  Such election shall be made immediately at the
  end of the play. However, if the batter reaches
  first base on a hit, an error, a base on balls, a
  hit batter, or otherwise, and all other runners
  advance at least one base, the play proceeds
  without reference to the interference.

24
INTERFERENCE - penalties

• UMPIRE -
• the plate umpire interferes with the catcher's
  throw, (to retire a stealing runner) runners
  return. If the catcher's throw gets the runner
  out, the out stands. No umpire interference.
• a fair ball touches an umpire on fair territory
  before it touches an infielder including the
  pitcher, or touches an umpire before it has
  passed an infielder other than the pitcher.

25
EXAM - question 1

• Batter bunts ball. Catcher moves forward to
  field the ball colliding with the batter.
• A. Obstruction
• B. Interference
• C. Train Wreck

26
SUMMARY

• Obstruction acts against the offense only by
  the defense.
• Interference illegal acts by either team and
  others.
• Theres an exception to almost every rule.

27
OBSTRUCTION?
28
NO OBSTRUCTION !!!
29
OBSTRUCTION?
30
NO OBSTRUCTION !!!
31
OBSTRUCTION?
32
YES, OBSTRUCTION !!!
33
OBSTRUCTION?
34
MAYBE?? Does the catcher have the ball
35
OBSTRUCTION !!! If the catcher doesnt have the
ball.
36
OBSTRUCTION?
37
YES, OBSTRUCTION !!! Again, if the catcher
doesnt have the ball
38
OBSTRUCTION?
39
NO OBSTRUCTION !!!
40
OBSTRUCTION?
41
NO OBSTRUCTION !!!Catcher has set up behind the
plate
42
QUESTIONS?