To call "Out" or "Time" on OBS play?

[sethwagner]

FED rules. Who is correct, Joe or Tom?

BR is obstructed by F3 after rounding 1st base and umpire Joe signals/identifies the defensive infraction. Ball beats BR to 2nd and F6 applies the tag. Umpire Joe calls the runner "Out" then calls "Time" and declares the obstruction and awards the runner 2nd base.

or

BR is obstructed by F3 after rounding 1st base and umpire Tom signals/identifies the defensive infraction. Ball beats BR to 2nd base and F6 applies the tag. Umpire Tom calls "Time" and declares the obstruction and awards the runner 2nd base.

Joe says that the "Out" call must be made to complete the play and then "Time" declared to correct and satisfy the obstruction penalty by then awarding the base.

Tom says calling "Out" prior to awarding the runner the base is needless and confusing. Defensive fans, on field defensive players and defensive bench may cheer at the out call and miss the declaration/explanation of the award. By omitting the "Out" call the umpire retains everyone's attention when "Time" is declared and the play goes more smoothly.

Who is right?

[Richard_Siegel]

As you specified....

calling "Out" prior to awarding the runner the base is needless and confusing.

If you know ahead of time that you will be making an award you are just asking for an argument and a possible ejection if you call him out, then award him a base.

Just call time and say, "That's Obstruction, you're awarded second base, stay right here."

[PeteBooth]

As you specified....

calling "Out" prior to awarding the runner the base is needless and confusing.

If you know ahead of time that you will be making an award you are just asking for an argument and a possible ejection if you call him out, then award him a base.

Just call time and say, "That's Obstruction, you're awarded second base, stay right here."

Richard I agree with your comments IF we are only talking about the one runner.

What if we have multiple runners?

In FED before we enforce "any awards" we wait until ALL playing action stops unlike the OBS Type "B" version in which TIME is called the moment we have a tag attempt on the obstructed runner.

Let's use the sitch in the OP but add R1 to the mix.

B1 singles in the gap between F8/F9 and in rounding first base is obstructed by F3.

R1 makes it to third base but as soon as R1 sees the defense making a play on the BR heads for home.

Now we have a call at second base and in turn F4/F6 (doesn't matter) fires home to get R1.

According to FED mechanics ALL action is not stopped so we Cannot call TIME so we have to make a call at second base.

The call is SAFE even if the BR was tagged out.

After action ends we would simply explain to the DM that the BR was safe due to the OBS.

The reason we would not make the out call is that the runner would most likely abandon the base and head for the dugout upon hearing the out call.

In Summary: if you only have 1 runner I agree with your approach however, if we have multiple runners then we give the safe call and explain to the DM why the runner was safe when the play is over.

Is it combersome yes but until FED makes a change we are supposed to wait until ALL action ends before enforcing.

Pete Booth

[Richard_Siegel]

As you specified....

calling "Out" prior to awarding the runner the base is needless and confusing.

If you know ahead of time that you will be making an award you are just asking for an argument and a possible ejection if you call him out, then award him a base.

Just call time and say, "That's Obstruction, you're awarded second base, stay right here."

Richard I agree with your comments IF we are only talking about the one runner.

What if we have multiple runners?

In FED before we enforce "any awards" we wait until ALL playing action stops unlike the OBS Type "B" version in which TIME is called the moment we have a tag attempt on the obstructed runner.

Let's use the sitch in the OP but add R1 to the mix.

B1 singles in the gap between F8/F9 and in rounding first base is obstructed by F3.

R1 makes it to third base but as soon as R1 sees the defense making a play on the BR heads for home.

Now we have a call at second base and in turn F4/F6 (doesn't matter) fires home to get R1.

According to FED mechanics ALL action is not stopped so we Cannot call TIME so we have to make a call at second base.

The call is SAFE even if the BR was tagged out.

After action ends we would simply explain to the DM that the BR was safe due to the OBS.

The reason we would not make the out call is that the runner would most likely abandon the base and head for the dugout upon hearing the out call.

In Summary: if you only have 1 runner I agree with your approach however, if we have multiple runners then we give the safe call and explain to the DM why the runner was safe when the play is over.

Is it combersome yes but until FED makes a change we are supposed to wait until ALL action ends before enforcing.

Pete Booth

Agreed

[dash_riprock]

Also, an out call at 2nd might cause PU to not make a call at the plate, if he was unaware of the OBS and believed there were 3 outs.