Obstruction or nothing

[ice_67]

ASA rules, Slapper up to bat, F3 is playing up about half way between 1st base and home, ball slapped to 3.5 hole, F3 who is positioned about 1-2 feet from the foul line stays put and doesn't move to the ball. Ball goes past F3 and now F4 is moving to field the ball. BR now is running toward first in direct line with F3, BR has to veer to avoid a collision. F4 fields the ball and beats BR to first by a half a step. BU signals out.

We argue that F3 obstructed our BR. Blue says no and that BR should have been in the running lane. We disagree, as no play from home plate area would cause BR to be in the running lane.

[wadeintothem]

If F3 was not fielding a batted ball or not in possession of a ball and impeded the runner, that is obstruction. The type of play you described would not fall under "running lane violation" which would be if the runner interfered with the fielder taking the throw at 1B by running outside the running lane.

[SnocatzDad]

So 30' up the line F3 is obstructing by only allowing the runner 1-2 ft in fair territory on top of the 3' she has in foul territory? Did the slapper run to the pitchers mound and high five the pitcher prior to going to first?

I understand the call in principle, especially if it's apparent that the fielder's job is to obstruct the runner, not field the ball or cover the bag. I'll have to scribble that one in my play book, I think I'll call it the human wall, or the picket fence.

If F3 turned on the play and ran back towards 1B (still in fair territory, but still in the runners direct path) would she have the primary right to be in that space?

[wadeintothem]

The answer doesnt change with alternate methods of phrasing it...

If a defender is not fielding a batted ball or not in possession of a ball and impeded the BR, we have obstruction.

Likewise, if the defender was fielding the batted ball and the BR interfered with that play, we have INT.

If the runner was not obstructed as described above and the defender not interfered with as described above, we have nothing.

[umpinva]

Ball goes past F3 and now F4 is moving to field the ball. BR now is running toward first in direct line with F3, BR has to veer to avoid a collision. F4 fields the ball and beats BR to first by a half a step. BU signals out.

When the BR had to veer to avoid colliding with F3 who did not have possession of the ball, F3 impeded the BR causing the BR to alter her path.

Obstruction!