I feel a runner is responsible for the path they take. A runner is not allowed to collide with an obstructing defender - someone will get hurt. I view this as illegal contact. In fact, I view this as illegal even if there was no contact - specifically, if the runner's knee hadn't hit F2 in the head.
8-6-10 Note says
Jumping, hurdling and leaping are all
legal attempts to avoid a fielder
only if the fileder is lying on th ground.
I really don't see any specific application of this note to the items listed in Art. 10. This is the only place in the rule book that 'jump leap hurdle' is mentioned. So, I think it applies to all play not just runner interference and the items of Art. 10.
Obstruction occurred - runner is protected.
Runner chose path through defender. Runner leaped over defender that was not prone. Runner is out for the illegal leap.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct/ejection does not seem appropriate in this case - she leaped to avoid the defender. I personally feel intentionally crashing into a defender is malicious unless it was accidental (and I enforce it that way) - runner should avoid the defense if possible. Just an out is the proper call here.
Penalty: Art. 10 through 14 (which includes the location of the Note given above) - the ball is dead and the runner is out. Each other runner must return to the last base legally touched at the time of the interference.
Penalty (following Art. 10 and the Note) says if this interference ... is an obvious attempt (I can't visualize a jump leap or hurdle as an obvious attempt) to prevent a double play ... the immediate suceeding runner shall
ALSO be called out. Meaning the leaper is out already.
This penalty obviously applies to Art. 10 because it mentions interference, the acts of Art. 10. Does it apply to the Note? Uuuuuuuhhhhh? Are jumping leaping hurdling acts of interference? I don't think so. I think the note is just in a poor location within the rule book - it should be a separate article with the penalty being the runner is out for jumping, leaping, or hurdling a non-prone defender. It is a safety issue - runner should be out.
Just my thoughts Glen.
[Edited by DownTownTonyBrown on Apr 10th, 2004 at 04:38 PM]