Quote:
Originally posted by Ump20
Actually, what I believe I was considering is whether or not the player makes a legitimate attempt to advance. I realize Knoblauch is protected into second and it has nothing to do with the closeness of the play. What I was thinking might be intelligent for the batter-runner is to advance to second once there is any contact. Does this not make obvious the intent? In other words if I am Knoblauch in that case and considering his was impeded by Zeile only minimally (enough to be obstruction but not to cause any real delay in advancing to second)wouldn't I be smart to continue to second and in essence force the umpire to make the call thereby getting an extra base I never would have attempted not gotten if there had been no obstruction?
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The runner who deliberately advances with no real possibility of reaching the subsequent base is risking an umpire's judgement as to whether the attempt to advance was legitimate. I might rule it was NOT a legitimate attempt to advance, if I adjudged the runner only proceeded because he was contacted (however slightly). Mind you, that's a pretty tough call to make. It is also one I wouldn't expect to
have to make in any Type A obstruction situation. No sensible batter-runner is going to exchange an easy base hit for a potential tag out when there is a play already in the process of being made on him at the advance base! It just won't happen! The short answer is NO, it would NOT be "intelligent" play.
With a legitimate attempt to advance, however, the fielder shouldn't be in that position unless he is at the point of the play on the runner, and if by being there when he shouldn't be he gives that runner this opportunity then that's just too bad. He's obstructed the runner, the automatic penalty is the next base, and no other judgement is required. If, OTOH, the runner has to deviate from his course to contact the fielder first then there is NO WAY that gets to be a legitimate attempt to advance OR even obstruction of any kind. The fielder didn't impede the runner. Instead the runner deliberately deviated into the fielder! The correct mechanic here is to point at the contact and verbalize "That's NOTHING!", or maybe even to call "That's Interference!" if the throw is enroute and near enough to the fielder when the contact is made.
Cheers,