ESO Baseball Rules
Mini Clinic
With
Rick Roder
September 30, 2007
Presentation includes narration; please turn up your volume.
Welcome!
Presentation includes narration; please turn up your volume.
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Off-season clinics are posted twice per month at ESO
“Online Training.”
Questions are submitted by umpires via email.
For each mini clinic play you’ll be asked to “make the call.”
Use PAUSE button to read options in any frame.
Rules, sources, mechanics, helpful hints provided.
Rule differences (pro, NFHS, NCAA) will be noted.
Bonus: Monthly quiz posted last day of month.
September 30, 2007: Larry G.
Watch this video:
• First part of clip, watch batter-runner and action
after touching first base.
• Second part of clip focuses on this same batterrunner.
• Watch clip as many times as you need.
http://s240.photobucket.com/albums/ff244/squeakyump/?action=view&current=jacobs_int_7_11Mbps_Stream001.flv
Some preliminary questions:
1. Depending on level of baseball you work – and the rules for
that level – you might have to distinguish between
“obstruction with a play” and “obstruction without a play.”
Which was this?
A) Obstruction with a play being made on obstructed runner.
B) Obstruction without a play being made on obstructed runner.
C) There was no obstruction.
Some preliminary questions:
2. The BR appeared to hesitate and/or stumble right
before the collision with F3. This hesitation/stumble
may well have a bearing on your ruling. What
happened right before the collision?
A) BR simply stumbled while running.
B) BR was thinking about stopping and returning to 1B.
C) BR was avoiding throw going home.
Some preliminary questions:
3. What is your instinct regarding the action of the BR in colliding
with the first baseman? What was BR going to do?
A) BR was going to stop and return to 1B anyway, so collision
had no bearing on play.
B) BR was definitely going to try for 2B; he was going full tilt
when the collision happened.
C) Because of the collision, there is no telling what BR was
going to do.
Some preliminary questions:
4. After the BR collided with F3 and returned to 1B, did
you see any other problems?
A) No.
B) Yes, first base coach interfered with BR.
C) Yes, BR “showed up” first base umpire and should
have been ejected.
Some preliminary questions:
5. What about the wild throw that went to the backstop?
A) It is not a factor.
B) It is a factor, but BR still never tried for 2B so cannot be
awarded 2B.
C) It is a factor and an important one. Without the obstruction
BR would have made 2B on the wild throw.
D) Collision happened before the throw was made so throw is
not a factor.
What is your ruling (read all; choose only one)?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Pro rules: obstruction without a play, call time after play has
ended and award BR second base.
Pro rules: same as “a” except time is called when the
obstruction occurs.
NFHS/NCAA rules: obstruction and BR gets second; must
get at least advance base. Ball dead after action ceases.
No obstruction; play stands.
Obstruction, but BR is out for coach’s interference;
interference takes precedence. R2 scores unless time play.
Before we sort this all out, maybe you want to watch
the play again:
http://s240.photobucket.com/albums/ff244/squeakyump/?action=view&current=jacobs_int_7_11Mbps_Stream001.flv
1. Was this OBS w/play or w/out play?
A) Obstruction with a play being made on obstructed
runner.
B) Obstruction without a play being made on
obstructed runner.
C) There was no obstruction.
2. Regarding hesitation of runner: What happened
right before the collision?
A) BR simply stumbled while running.
B) BR was thinking about stopping and returning to 1B.
C) BR was avoiding throw going home.
3. What is your instinct regarding the action of the BR in colliding
with the first baseman? What was BR going to do?
A) BR was going to stop and return to 1B anyway, so
collision had no bearing on play.
B) BR was definitely going to try for 2B; he was
going full tilt when the collision happened.
C) Because of the collision, there is no telling what BR was
going to do.
Some preliminary questions:
4. After the BR collided with F3 and returned to 1B, did
you see any other problems?
A) No.
B) Yes, first base coach interfered with BR.
C) Yes, BR “showed up” first base umpire and should
have been ejected.
Some preliminary questions:
5. What about the wild throw that went to the backstop?
A) It is not a factor.
B) It is a factor, but BR still never tried for 2B so cannot be
awarded 2B.
C) It is a factor and an important one. Without the
obstruction BR would have made 2B on the wild
throw.
D) Collision happened before the throw was made so throw is
not a factor.
Ruling:
• OBR: what would have happened absent the
obstruction?
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BR would have tried for second
Would have made second on wild throw
Would not have been coach’s interference w/out OBS
Call time after play is over and award BR second
Ruling:
• NCAA/NFHS:
– Ball remains live on ALL obstruction plays
– Obstructed runner must be awarded at least one base
– Coach’s interference would likely not have happened
absent obstruction, so is nullified
– Call time after play is over and award BR second
Lots to sort out on this play:
• If play happens to you, don’t be afraid to consult
with partners after the play to sort it out.
• Call the coach’s interference, even if you think it
may later be nullified.
• Know that you must consider the play in its
entirety when deciding on the obstruction.
• Thanks to Larry G. for sending in this video.
Thank you for participating!
Next ESO Mini Clinic: October 15
Please email rule questions to [email protected]