What would your call have been?
2016/7/15 17:35:00
Question
I have read a few questions here that are similar, but haven't found one that is exactly the question that I have.
1 out - Runners on 2nd & 3rd, ball hit to ss.
Runners attempt to advance. SS chooses to throw the ball home to prevent a run. Runner is clearly running inside the baseline and is hit by the ball in the shoulder as the catcher is attempting to catch the ball. I understand that if it was not intentional, the runner is not called for interference. The question I have is that the runner intentionally lowered her shoulder and tried to "take out" the catcher. - Which backfired because our catcher is a "brick wall" and even though it caught her off guard, she didn't budge. It would have been an obvious flagrant play, but the catcher was not in possession of the ball yet.
The ball deflects off of the player and the pitcher retrieves it. The official calls time out because the runner is laying there hurt/crying- but he never called her safe or out. After the dust clears, it is realized that the runner never actually made it to the plate she bounced back after contacting the catcher and was laying there hurt - our pitcher could have tagged her out, but by this time the time out has already been called and the coach is there by the player checking if she is ok.
Answer
Hi Susan,
As far as the actual play is concerned I have obstruction by the catcher and will protect the runner to the base they would have made had there been no obstruction, in this case home. The catcher cannot block the plate without having possession of the ball. Even with a throw on the way your catcher has to move to allow the runner a direct line to the base. It sounds like she got the best of the contact but to be honest the catcher initiated the problem by obstructing the plate. That's does not give free rein to a runner to do what they want re: contact but...
With either obstruction or interference I take a hard line when a player lowers their shoulder or brings up a forearm (other than to protect themselves) but to be fair I would have to see the whole thing to determine if I wanted to do anything more to the player.
Mark
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