• MAGISTERLUDI
    +3

    The biggest concern to any one's contention's, is the ref only 6-7ft away watching the play develop not invoking any infraction while the home plate ump, 90 ft away, deems it so.......There is to me no doubt that the lifting of the legs was the catalyst, though it could be argued that the runner was already on his way down before. It was a judgement call that should have been left to the third base ump, if not, the final decision made after the two consulted. That is the proper protocol in these situations, from experience.

    • jcscher
      +4

      Third-base umpire Jim Joyce made the initial obstruction call. Please read the link I added on

    • MAGISTERLUDI
      +3
      @jcscher -

      Ah,..... my bad......... I concentrated on replays in which no call on his part could be determined, esp that of "immediately".

    • jcscher
      +2
      @MAGISTERLUDI -

      :) The rule does need to be looked at!

    • MAGISTERLUDI
      +2
      @jcscher -

      It just needs rational interpretation, It states the fielder has the right to field any ball. He becomes an obstruction milliseconds after the ball passes or he catches it? Not the intent of the rule to my understanding. I have umped over a hundred games of high school, AAU ball and hundreds more of lesser age, as head and base ump. Made a handful of obstruction calls, only when the fielder had time to remove himself and made little or no effort. Never was I even questioned on those particular calls, or on any non-calls concerning precisely the situation presented here. It just takes common sense, rules can not give the right to the fielder then take it away because he did his job instantly thereafter.....Intent is of the essence, or the fielder has no right to even occupy the area considered the basepath.