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Author |
TOPIC: Catcher Obstruction? |
| Bill (from Dale)
April 21, 2013
5:17:18 PM
Entry #: 4049185
| A) Runner on second (R1), and the pitcher drops the ball on the forward swing and "rolls" a pitch in. The pitch (roller) clearly has a enough momentum to cross the plate with B2 at bat. The catcher, seeing the runner lead from second on the pitch, runs out in front of the plate and "fields the ball" there (several feet in front of home). The batter, B2, stayed in the box and never moved or attempted to swing at the ball. Is there a call?
B) What if the runner from second (R1), was stealing on the pitch?
C) What if the bases were empty?
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| Ricky
April 22, 2013
6:24:07 AM
Entry #: 4049348
| A) I would say no call - Batter didnt make contact with catcher
B) Stolen base would be allowed since the pitch is just declared as a ball. No swing on batter
C) nothing no obstruction -
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| Greg
April 24, 2013
7:26:31 AM
Entry #: 4050122
| ASA Rules Supplement, in OBSTRUCTION, then under Catcher's Obstruction, states that even if the catcher reaches out in front of home plate to catch a pitch that catcher's obstruction "may" be ruled. Therefore, since the batter made no attempt to swing at the rolling ball, there should be no call.
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| Perry
April 24, 2013
3:34:45 PM
Entry #: 4050319
| Shouldn't the catcher have to let the batter have a chance to swing, if it's rolled in?
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| Reply from Jim Peters
April 24, 2013
9:16:13 PM
Entry #: 4050457
| A) Rule 6, Section 7. Catcher stayed in the box until the ball was released. No Problem there.
B)Rule 6, Section 11. Dropped ball, ball remains live and runners can advance at their own risk. That answers about the runners.
C) Don't seem to have catcher's obstruction since the batter did nothing. Rule 8, Section 1, Subsection D, Reference 3. In my opinion catcher's obstruction does not take effect because the batter made no attempt to swing.
RULING: Ball on the batter, and the ball is alive.
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| henry
May 2, 2013
12:25:51 PM
Entry #: 4053000
| Catcher obstruction. The catcher must give the batter the opportunity to hit the ball. The ball is live and the batter can swing . If there was no runner at first base and the batter swung for strike 3 she can take off.
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| bob
May 2, 2013
1:13:49 PM
Entry #: 4053017
| Doesnt the hitter have to make a swing at the ball for catcher obstruction? There is no obstruction if she doesnt swing.
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| Greg
May 4, 2013
7:08:09 AM
Entry #: 4053536
| I understand Jim Peter's thinking with "C," but I still have a problem with the catcher going out in front of home plate to "field" a pitch before it crosses the plate. To me there seems like there should be more of a penalty than just awarding a ball. If there are runners, maybe they should have to return to their base at the time of the pitch.
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