Expert: Andrew Senger - 6/4/2009

Question
I understand the rule is three bases if Contact is made but as an umpire how exactly is the call made. Do you call time, dead ball ? The confusion comes from the Babe Ruth rule 7.05( b-c-d-e) that says the ball is in play

Answer
Jim,

I would signal obstruction, which is my left arm straight out and hand in a fist. I would also call "That's obstruction!"

I would not call a dead ball. As the Official Rules say, the ball is still alive. However, the runners are going to automatically receive three bases from the last base touched when the ball was touched.

The reason for allowing the play to continue is that ensuing plays could penalize the defense even more than the three bases. For example, let's say the batter/runner had not touched first base before the obstruction occurred. When the fielder hit the ball with his glove, it deflected the ball FARTHER away from him. The batter/runner easily runs all the way to home plate and is safe. If the call was immediately dead, the batter/runner would have only been given third base; because of the ensuing action, however, the batter/runner actually made it home, which penalized the defense more.