Obstruction and Interference

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Obstruction and Interference
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Definition obstruction

• Obstruction is the act of
• A defensive player or team member that hinders or
  prevents a batter from striking or hitting a
  pitched ball.
• A fielder, while
• not in possession of the ball, or
• which impedes the progress of a runner or
  batter-runner that is legally running bases

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Definition interference

• Interference is the act of
• an offensive player or team member that impedes,
  hinders, or confuses a defensive player
  attempting to execute a play.
• Interference is interference when it
  interferes!!!

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Obstruction on the batter

• ? delayed dead ball, after play is finished
• option coach penalty on catchers obstruction or
  taking the result of the play
• batter has received first base safely and all
  runners have at least advanced one base ? result
  stands, no option to the coach
• (3) when coach does not take option catchers
  obstruction is ruled batter to first base,
  runners return to their base unless forced to
  next base

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Obstruction on the batter-runner or runner

• Catcher/fielder needs to have the ball before
  standing in front of the plate/base/runner
• ? delayed dead ball, after play is finished
• (1) runner reaches the base he/she would have
  reached when no obstruction would have occurred ?
  result stands
• (2) runner does not reach the base he/she would
  have reached when no obstruction would have
  occurred ? dead ball, umpires awards the base to
  the runner that he/she would have reached when no
  obstruction would have occurred.
• exception when an early leave, missed base or
  interference occurred an proper appeal is
  possible.
• (3) runner overruns the base he/she would have
  reached when no obstruction would have occurred ?
  result stands

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Interference by Umpire

• interferes with catcher ? delayed dead ball
• 1) if runner is out ? out stands
• 2) if runner is not out ? dead ball and all
  runners return to their base at the time of the
  throw

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Interference by On deck batter

• interferes with a defensive player
• 1) who is attempting to retire a runner ? ball
  is dead, runner closest to home plate is out, and
  all runners return to their base at the time of
  interference.
• 2) who is attempting to catch a fly ball ? ball
  is dead, batter-runner is out, and all runners
  return to their base at the time of interference.

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Interference by batter

• - interferences with the catcher, while out of
  the batters box ? ball is dead, batter is out,
  and all runners return to their base at the time
  of the throw.
• - interferes intentionally with the catcher,
  while in the batters box ? dead ball, batter is
  out, and all runners return to their base at the
  time of the throw.
• - interferes with a play at home plate ? dead
  ball, batter is out, and all runners return to
  their base at the time of the throw.

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Interference by batter-runner

• - interferes with the catcher or fielder throw to
  first base while running outside the 1 metre lane
  ? dead ball, batter-runner is out, and all
  runners return to their base at the time of the
  throw
• - interferes with a fielder fielding or throwing
  the ball or with a fair batted ball ? dead ball,
  batter-runner is out, and all runners return to
  their base at the time of the interference
• - interferes intentionally with a play at home
  plate ? dead ball, batter- runner and the runner
  closest to home plate are out, and other runners
  return

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Interference by Runner

• - interferes with a fair-batted ball, before
  passing an infielder (excluding the pitcher) ?
  dead ball, runner is out, and other runners
  return to their base at the time of the
  interference (if the interference is preventing
  from a double play, the umpire will also give the
  second out).
• - interferes with a fair-batted ball,
  intentionally ? dead ball, runner is out, and
  other runners return to their base at the time of
  the interference (if the interference is
  preventing from a double play, the umpire will
  also give the second out).
• - interferes while he/she already has scored or
  is already out, ? dead ball, the runner closest
  to home plate is out, and other runners return to
  their base at the time of the interference

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Interference by Coach/batboy/dugout players

• interferes with attempt to retire a runner
• ? ball is dead, runner closest to home plate
  is out, and all runners return to their base at
  the time of interference unless forced by batter
• interferes with a fly ball
• ? ball is dead, batter-runner is out, and all
  other runners return to their base at the time of
  interference.

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Any person other then team members

• Ball dead, umpire rewards bases they would have
  reached in the umpire opinion!!!!

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Example

• R2, a hit to the short stop and the short stop
  impedes the progress of R2
• 1) when the short stop does not attempt to field
  a ball or has the ball in her/his possession ?
  obstruction
• 2) when the short stop attempts to field the ball
  or has the ball in his/her possession ?
  interference