Ejection 020 – After Early Obstruction Call in Milwaukee, Marty Foster Ejects Brewers’ Pat Murphy

1B Umpire Marty Foster ejected MIL bench coach Pat Murphy over a bunt check swing call, two innings after manager Craig Counsel argued an obstruction play. Report: https://www.closecallsports.com/2021/04/mlb-ejection-020-marty-foster-1-pat.html

In the 2nd inning, Foster called Milwaukee pitcher Zack Godley for obstruction, ruling that Godley not in possession of the ball nor in the act of fielding the ball had impeded the progress of Marlins batter-runner Isan Diaz on a ground ball to first base.

Obstruction (Type 1/A) is a fairly strict rule that mandates the umpire award the obstructed runner “at least one base”; had this play been subject to OBS 2/B (no play being made on the runner at the time of obstruction), the umpire would have had the opportunity to “nullify the act” of obstruction and possibly rule the runner out.

Additionally, the Official Baseball Rules allow the batter-runner to set their own base path; in this situation, the runner’s lane does not apply because the ball is already in front of the runner (as opposed to behind the runner being played to first base) and, thus, the runner’s journey through the infield grass to the left of the foul line is actually legal.