It is amazing to me that the common baseball fan doesn't know the difference between obstruction and interference on a baseball field. This is a common mistake that people make. I think I know enough about it to be dangerous so I will share what I think here. The funny thing is once interference or obstruction is called most people don't know the way these penalties are enforced. I thought I would share so that once you have read this you will be able to tell your peers all about it.
In baseball, obstruction is when a fielder illegally hinders a baserunner running within the basepath. ... The only time that a fielder is not obligated to "get out of the way" of a baserunner is when the fielder is fielding a hit ball or in possession of the ball. In this case the baserunner must avoid contact and allow the fielder to field the ball. Official Baseball Rule 2.0 defines obstruction as: The act of a fielder who, while not in possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding the ball, impedes the progress of any runner. Comment: If a fielder is about to receive a thrown ball and if the ball is in flight directly toward and near enough to the fielder so he must occupy his position to receive the ball he may be considered "in the act of fielding a ball." It is entirely up to the judgment of the umpire as to whether a fielder is in the act of fielding a ball. After a fielder has made an attempt to field a ball and missed, he can no longer be in the "act of fielding" the ball. For example: an infielder dives at a ground ball and the ball passes him and he continues to lie on the ground and delays the progress of the runner, he very likely has obstructed the runner. The comment to Rule 7.09 also said that a fielder attempting to field a ball should be called only in a very flagrant or violent case as this rule gives him the right of way, but this right of way is not a license to trip a runner while fielding the ball. One other misconception is if a fielder causes a runner to alter his normal running path without physical contact the umpire can still enforce the obstruction rule. There are also two type of obstruction. Type 1 obstruction is being impeded while a play is being made on him. Type 2 obstruction is when a runner is impeded randomly while no play is being made on him.
Penalties - Type 1 Obstruction is an immediate dead ball and bases are awarded as appropriate. Type 2 Obstruction is a delayed dead ball and he play is allowed to continue - the umpire will signal but play will continue then deal with penalties after play has concluded. NFHS rules treat all obstruction Type 2.
Type 1 obstruction penalty is only the next base after the last legally touched base. Simple. Type 2 obstruction penalty is a little tricky - this requires an umpire to judge on the infraction. Typically once the play has concluded the umpire will call time and place the runner where in his judgment the runner belongs. This is not a free pass to take the next base as if you are tripped up heading to second base on a clear double and get thrown out after the obstruction you will probably get awarded second base. If you tried to stretch it into a triple and the umpire doesn't feel that the obstruction hurt your chance of making it to third and you get thrown out...you will be out.
Interference - is not the same thing as obstruction. Typically it is kind of the opposite. While obstruction is a fielder impeding a base runner. Interference is typically a base runner interfering with a field trying to make a play, "Act of Fielding". However interference is not limited to the baserunners. There can be coaches that interfere with a fielder (base coaches), there can be fan interference and there can be batter interference. There is one interference when a fielder can "interfere" instead of "obstruct" and that is Catcher's Interference.
Are you keeping up or are you still confused?
Here is a list of interference calls you might see in a baseball game...
Base Runner Interference - if a runner is touched by a batted ball, this is a dead ball foul and the runner is out this includes the batter runner..except when he is not. I will explain. If the batted ball has passed an infielder or was touched by a fielder and deflected then hits the runner, he is not out nor is it a dead ball. For example the first baseman is holding on the runner at first and as the pitch is delivered he pushes off to get into position. The ball is hit at him and he is in front of the baseline. The ball goes through his legs and hits R1 (Runner on First). Ball is live and play continues. R1 is not out.
Base Runner Impedes a player making a play on the ball - the runner is out and the batter runner is awarded first base unless it was him that caused the interference. You can have two outs in a double play situation if there is an illegal slide or fails to get out of the way of the next throw. It is possible for the umpire(s) to call both runners out.
Running Lane Interference - remember the playoffs last year. This running lane is designed to allow the defense to make a throw to first and keeping the runner in a predetermined alley to the base. There are several exceptions to this rule but basically if the defense makes a good throw and the batter runner comes in contact with the thrown ball outside of the lane "Interference". If he is in the box their is no penalty.
Bat hits the ball a second time - bat hits the ball in fair territory a second time this is interference and the batter is out. If the ball hits the bat, say you bunt the ball fair and you drop your bat and ball rolls into the bat you have nothing unless the umpire feels you did this intentionally. This is a judgment call by the umpire...did the bat hit the ball a second time or did the ball hit the bat. Weird right! If you bat breaks and a part of the broken bat hits the ball again...there is no call here. Any time the batter runner intentionally deflects a batted or thrown ball it is interference and he is out.
Non Contact Interference - if a runner hollers "I got it!!!" as he is passing a fielder trying to catch a fly ball is also interference even though there was no contact.
Typically there is always an out with interference and the ball is dead and the runners go back to the original base they were on before the play began. Again there are some weird things that could happen but hey just stay out of the fielders way.
There are a few more examples of interference. However, I would encourage you to check out www.umpirebible.com and learn all this stuff on your own. As a former coach and current tournament director it always amazes me when parent, coach or player doesn't know the difference between Obstruction and Interference. Hope I helped. Until next time.
Coach Bale
References
Umpire Bible - umpirebible.com
Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org
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