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Online now: 2 members: TABLE SETTER 11, tg69; 96 anonymousDiscussion: Clarification on Offensive Interference and Catcher Obstruction.
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| Feb. 20, 2018 txnighttrain 120 posts | Clarification on Offensive Interference and Catcher Obstruction. During one of our games at TOC we had a batter/runner interfere with a throw by yelling out for our fielder to throw to third instead of where we wanted the throw to go, which was second. Both umpires heard it even though the batter/runner tried to deny it. The umpire just warned him and told him not to do it again. I told the umpire that the rules say that if a person intentionally interferes, he is out. Rule 8.3.E says nothing about it affecting the play. The intent alone is why he should have been out. He said if the batter/runner advanced further off the play, he would have made him go back. I don't think that is right the way the rule reads, their should have been an out. The other is on catcher obstruction. The rule says that a catcher cannot obstruct the batter from striking the ball. There was an issue whether a catcher could talk when the ball was in flight from the pitcher. The umpire made the catcher from the other team stop. The contention was that it obstructed the batter from hearing the umpire call illegal pitches and therefore swing at a ball he normally wouldn't have struck at. I am just trying to get an actuate understanding of the rule and if something is being done wrong have a righteous reason for protesting. I just like to get it right. |
| Feb. 21, 2018 OZ40 549 posts | Sounds like there needs to be a general rule on the books regarding bush league antics, we've all been there in these types of instances. |
| Feb. 21, 2018 B.J. 1106 posts | txnighttrain.. the 1st part of your post was correct the b/r should have been called out.. as far as the catcher talking during the pitch it is bush league but part of the game and the umpire usually doesn't say anything unless it is brought up by the offensive team that it is bothering them |
| Feb. 21, 2018 OZ40 549 posts | First of, if the catcher babbling is distracting you then you need work on your game. The best way to combat that is to not even acknowledge it and reach base. I can't tell how many games I've been in and we started running up the score the catcher got quieter and quieter....Games are not won and lost because of a loudmouth catcher unless you choose to let them be. When you win games like that guess who the quietest man in the handshake line is? |
| Feb. 21, 2018 stick8 1991 posts | I had this in a usssa class D nit game a few years ago. Catcher was trying to distract the batter by calling "time out" during the pitch. From an umpire point of view if he feels it's a legitimate distraction then he can rule the batter has the option if taking the result of the play. In this case the batter flew out. So he took a do over and got a single. Then I called both managers over and warned them both if it happens again players will be tossed. That's usssa. I trust bj has it right for ssusa. From a player point of view Oz is correct, if you let a catcher babbling distract you then you need to focus better on your at bat. But in this case this catcher was going way overboard. |
| Feb. 22, 2018 GORILLA4S Men's 60 20 posts | No crying in softball. Hey batter-batter, hey batter-batter, hey batter-batter.....swing! I'd say, focus on your AB and I frankly can speak for the majority of players, I don't hear a thing when in the box. |
| Feb. 22, 2018 softball4b Men's 70 1248 posts | The only voices I hear are the ones in my head and of course my wife when she is there. Her words of encouragement like, "Don't Suck" are golden. have been known to tell the pitcher if I lose concentration because of the antics of the catcher I might lose a little bat control and or remind the catcher that I am the catcher. Mike Adair More than one brick shy of a load. |
| Feb. 22, 2018 txnighttrain 120 posts | I batted .750 at TOC. The issue is not a distraction from talking, but hearing the umpire call illegal. It makes it tough to discern. |
| Feb. 22, 2018 txnighttrain 120 posts | I asked the field director and he said catcher can't talk when ball in flight from pitcher. I just find any wording to that effect in the rule. |
| Feb. 22, 2018 txnighttrain 120 posts | I mean didn't find any wording. |
