Obstruction (Rule 7.06) is called when the defense hinders the runner’s
ability to run the bases. There are two different applications of the
rule. One causes an immediate dead ball and the other is delayed dead. If
a play is being made on a runner who is obstructed, the ball is
immediately dead. If no play is being made the ball is delayed dead. A
play, for purposes of this rule is when the ball
is being thrown, or is in-flight, heading toward the base to which the
runner is heading, an attempted tag, or when the runner is caught in a
run-down. The rulebook definition is:
"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.
If a fielder is about
to receive a thrown ball, and if the ball is in flight, directly toward,
and near enough to the fielder, so he must occupy his position to receive
the ball, he may be considered "in the act of fielding a ball." It is
entirely up to the judgment of the umpire, as to whether a fielder is in
the act of fielding a ball. After a fielder has made an attempt to field a
ball, and has missed, he can no longer be in the "act of fielding" the
ball. For example: an infielder dives at a ground ball and the ball passes
him and he continues to lie on the ground and delays the progress of the
runner, he very likely has obstructed the runner."
A fake tag is considered
obstruction. A fake tag is when the fielder is at a base and
takes an action that simulates an attempted tag, which causes the runner
to slow down or slide. Faking a catch of a ball while not near a base or
the basepath, is not a fake tag.
The fielder may stand in the basepath without the ball IF the throw is almost to him, and he needs to move there to catch the ball. This is considered “the act of fielding.” However, he may not actually block access to the base until he has possession of the ball, or starts the act of fielding. Until he has possession, or becomes “in the act of fielding” the ball, he must give the runner some way to get to the base.
It is never obstruction when
the fielder is in the base path while he is attempting to field a
batted ball. Obstruction only applies when the fielder is in the path
for no reason, or is in the path prior to being in the act of fielding a
throw, or does not have possession of the ball.
A fielder's "attempt to field"
a batted ball ends immediately upon missing or deflecting the ball and
such fielder must, in effect, disappear or risk obstruction.
A fielder is "in the act of fielding" and it is NOT obstruction, if, his block of the base, is a fluid, continuous result of his effort to glove the ball.
Separate, discontinuous movement, whose sole purpose is to block the
base, is obstruction.
As with interference,
obstruction is also a tough judgment call. Contact between the runner and
fielder is not necessary to meet the definition. If a runner must slow
down or alter his path to avoid a fielder who is not in possession of the
ball or "in the act of fielding" a throw, he has been obstructed.
If no play is being made on
the runner at the time he is obstructed, the play continues. “Time” is not
called until all play ends. The tough part comes when the play stops. The
umpire will award the runner the base to which the umpire believes he
would have reached had he not been obstructed. The play ends and “Time” is
called, when the obstructed runner is tagged out, or he ceases to continue
to advance, or he gets caught in a run-down, or all action ends. At that
time, the umpire may, award bases or not, in order to nullify the
obstruction.
For example: the batter hits a
ball in the gap for what looks like an easy double. No play is being made
on him. As he rounds first the fielder is in his path and they collide.
The batter stops at first. The umpire will award the runner second base,
if he believes; the runner was making a legitimate effort to advance to
second base and could have made it, had he not been obstructed. The umpire
will protect the runner back to first base, if the runner was not making
an attempt for second, but the obstruction hindered his ability to get
back to first, before being put out.
It does not matter where the
obstruction occurs. If a runner is obstructed at first base and the umpire
believes he could have made it to third base, he will be awarded third.
The umpire must be the judge. If, in the umpire's judgment, a runner is
slowed down at first base, and the umpire judges that the runner had a
chance for a triple, but then is thrown out at third base, the out should
be nullified because of the obstruction at first. However, if the runner
is obstructed at first base and the umpire believes that only a double is
possible, and the runner advances to third and is thrown out; the out
would stand.
If the runner reaches the base
to which the umpire has protected him, and he advances further during the
action, and is put out, the out will stand.
An immediate dead ball
obstruction is called when obstruction occurs while a play is being made
on the runner.
For example: a runner on first
is attempting to reach third on a hit. A fielder obstructs him, between
second and third, as the throw from the outfield is heading toward third.
This is a play on the runner. The umpire should call "time" when the
obstruction occurs and award the runner third base. Another example is a
run-down play. It does not matter which way the runner is heading. If he
is obstructed while being played upon in a run-down, he is awarded at
least one base beyond the last base he held.
If a runner is obstructed
attempting to get back to first on a pick-off play, the ball is dead and
he is awarded second.
Rule 7.06 covers obstruction. 7.06(a) is when a play is being made and 7.06(b) is when there is no play being made.