Game 7: BB Outfield vs. The Pits

post availability

Game 6: Field 8 vs. Misfits

post-up like KG

Game 5: Field 1 vs. Error Prone

Field 1 is the turf field closest to the Z center. RSVP.

Game 4: Field 8 vs. Ballistics

Post your availability to see me attempt another amazing diving catch... either that or for your availability for the game tomorrow.

Rules Primer

Great game yesterday. There was some confusion on the basepaths last night, so I decided to look up some rules. These are the official MLB rules, so the softball versions might be a little different. Anyway...

The ump last night didn't call interference against us as a runner advanced from second to first. Rule 7.09(i) states that "it is interference by a batter or a runner when...he fails to avoid a fielder who is attempting to field a batted ball." Sounds like our runner should have been declared out. We caught a break there, and we capitalized by going on to have a big inning.

We also had a runner awarded an extra base on an obstruction call. Obstruction is a judgement call on the part of the umpire, so both teams have to accept that their fielder, in the judgement of the umpire, obstructed with our runner. The question is whether the runner, who was advancing from second to third base while the ball was in the outfield, should have awarded home. Rule 7.06(b) states, "If no play is being made on the obstructed runner, the play shall proceed until no further action is possible. The umpire shall then call “Time” and impose such penalties, if any, as in his judgment will nullify the act of obstruction."

So, if the umpire believes the runner would have scored, then the runner should be awarded home plate. Again, it's a judgement call and the other team had no recourse. Moreover, our runner did the correct thing in staying at third base and waiting for the umpire to award him home plate. The comment to this rule states that "when the ball is not dead on obstruction and an obstructed runner advances beyond the base which, in the umpire’s judgment, he would have been awarded because of being obstructed, he does so at his own peril and may be tagged out." Since no play was being made on our runner, the ball was not dead. And if the umpire had, in his judgement, not awarded the runner home plate on the obstruction call, then our runner would have been liable to have been tagged out. Waiting at third base is the best option there.

Now that we've covered those rules thoroughly, I'm sure we'll never see plays like this again all season.

Game 3: Jun 3 MBB

Hey guys,

Reply w/ availability for tomorrow's game versus Aeros in the Outfield. The game will be on the Men's Baseball Field (in the outfield).

-K