[bob jenkins]

Originally posted by mcrowder
Playing devils advocate here...

"Obstruction is an act (intentional or otherwise, as well as physical or verbal) by a fielder, any member of the defensive team or its team personnel that hinders a runner or changes a pattern of play..."

Your casebook play illustrates an example of verbal obstruction. Take that exact same play, but take out the "Get back, get back!" Is the act of throwing the baseball like a pop-up, on it's own, an "intentional physical act by a fielder that hinders the runner or changes a pattern of play"? And if so, are you calling obstruction on a catcher that does this?

I'd say "no" to both. I'd treat the "thrown pop-up" as more like the Miami play, which is legal.