Houston TASO Obstruction and Interference January

Obstruction – 2-22 Obstruction is an act Intentional or unintentional Physical or verbal A fielder or any member of the defensive team or personnel Fake Tag is obstruction: Act of fielder without the ball that simulates a tag

The fielder without possession of the ball denies access to the runner is attempting to receive. Hinders or changes the pattern of play (5-1-3 \ 8-3-2))

5-1-3 Time will be taken to give the proper awards to base runner\s Base runner advancing or returning to a base Each runner affected by the obstruction the base they would have reached if the obstruction had not occurred. Umpire must advance the runner a minimum of one base beyond the base he occupied at the time of obstruction. If the runner advances beyond the minimum of one base and the base the umpire felt the runner was entitled to the runner is in jeopardy of being retired.

Obstruction of the catcher or fielder with the batter (5-1-2b \8-1- 1e \8-3-1c \ 8-3-2) Delayed dead ball (5-1-2b\c) Coach has the option to accept or deny the catchers obstruction. Batter is awarded 1 st base, runners are awarded 1 base if forced. Runners not forced are to return to base from time of pitch. If the batter and all runners advance 1 base the catcher’s obstruction is nullified. If the runner is stealing or squeezing he will be awarded the base he was advancing. 8-2-e1

When obstruction occurs: The ball is dead at the end of the play

Interference Offensive Interference – physical or verbal by the team at bat: Interferes \ Obstructs \ Impedes \ Confuses any fielder making an attempt on a play Malicious Contact with or without the ball in or out of the baseline Coach physically assists a runner during playing action

Umpire Interference Inadvertently moves so as to hinder a catcher’s throw or when a fair batted ball touches an umpire. Awards – Catcher’s throw is a delayed dead ball. If the catcher retires the runner on the initial throw the interference is ignored. If the runner safely gets to the base he will be returned to the base from time of pitch. If the base umpire is touched by the batted ball prior to passing an infielder, the batter runner is awarded 1 st base. Runners will advance if forced otherwise runner’s return to the base from time of pitch.

Coaches Interference (7-4-1f) Any member including the coach interferes with a fielder fielding a fly ball. Batter is called out and all runners return to the base occupied at the time of pitch.

Batters Interference – Leaning over home plate Stepping out of the batter’s box Making any other movement which hinders actions at home plate or the attempt to make a play on a runner, Failing to make a reasonable effort, to vacate a congested area when there is a throw to home plate; and there is time for the batter to move away. When there are two outs the batter is out. When there are less than two outs and the play results in runner being retired. The ball remains alive and the interference is ignored. Otherwise, the ball is dead and the runner is declared out.

Batters Interference – When an attempt is made to retire a runner at any other base is unsuccessful then the batter will be declared out and all runners return to the base occupied at the time of pitch. If the pitch was the third strike retiring the batter if in the umpires judgment two out could have been made the umpire can apply additional outs.

Base runner interference (8-4-1h) Any runner or retired runner interferes in a way to obviously interfere with an obvious interference Interference will be called, the ball is dead immediately. On a force playslide with less than two outs the runner is declared out as well as the batter-runner. All other runners return to the last base touched at the time of pitch. With two outs the runner is out and the batter is awarded a fielder’s choice.

Force Play Slide Rule (8-4-2b) Runner does not legally slide and causes illegal contact and or illegally alters the actions of a fielder in the immediate act of making a play, or on a force play does not slide in a line between the bases; or Runner may slide in a direction away from the fielder to avoid interfering with him. Runners are never required to slide, but if a runner elects to slide, the slide must be legal. Jumping, hurdling, and leaping are all legal attempts to avoid a fielder as long as the fielder is lying on the ground. Diving over a fielder is illegal.

Force Play Slide Rule (8-4-2b) Interference will be called, the ball is dead immediately. On a force play slide with less than two outs the runner is declared out as well as the batter-runner. All other runners return to the last base touched at the time of pitch. With two outs the runner is out and the batter is awarded a fielder’s choice.

Legal slides (2-32-1\2) Feet first or head first Feet first – One leg and buttock shall be on the ground The runner must be within reach of the base with hand or foot. Runner may slide in either direction away from the fielder to avoid making contactor altering the play of the fielder.

Illegal Slides Runner uses a rolling or cross-body or pop-up slide into the fielder. The runner raises his leg higher than the fielder’s knee when the fielder is standing in position. The runner goes beyond the base and then makes contact with or alters the play of the fielder. The runner slashes or kicks at the fielder with either leg. The runner tries to injure the fielder. The runner on a force play, does not slide on the ground in a direct line between the two bases.