Quote:
Originally posted by oppool
Mike
But 8-8-Q clearly talks about a defensive player in the act of ABOUT TO RECIEVE a ball in flight and it states under the effect that the runner should be called out for interference and ejected if the act is flagarant.
Also POE 13 states same information on crashing into a fielder while standing up and the fielder is about to receive a thrown ball. It adds the runner can slide,jump over the top of the fielder, go around or go back if not then the runner is out for interference
I am not trying to say it all right for a defender to block a base or home but the fielder does have the right to make the play without getting run over with or without the ball if the ball is in FLIGHT
Would it make any difference of the fielder was 1/4 of the way down the line instead of directly in front of home plate waiting to receive the ball in flight??
[Edited by oppool on Apr 20th, 2001 at 03:32 PM]
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No, it doesn't make a difference where the defender is, she is NOT allowed to block the basepath without the ball or about to receive the ball.
"About to receive the ball" is defined as the ball getting closer to the defender than the runner. This is basically there to relieve a defender from being called for obstruction when s/he misplays a thrown ball prior to the runner reaching the point of contacting that player. The defender does NOT have the right to impede a base runner just because a ball is in flight. The only time this is not true is when an errant throw draws the defender into the path of a runner. BTW, that must be judged by the umpire as innocent. If the umpire notices the defender trying to manipulate his/her body to intentionally contact the runner on an errant throw, s/he may still rule obstruction.
However, you are only going to call an out when there was going to be an out made. If the runner intentionally runs over a defender, they will be ejected whether safe or out. BTW, an ejection is not in effect until a play is over. Now, if the defender is taken out of the play by an intentional crash, and it prevents him/her from making a play on another runner, then I will kill the ball, rule interference, and rule the runner on which a play could have been made out.