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Peter:
This is why baseball is so fascinating. Yours is a question I cannot recall discussing during my entire career.
Question: Can a batter-runner run through the bag (no attempt to advance) and be obstructed?
My initial thought was: Yes. (The second baseman certainly clipped him.) The protected base is: First. (He made no effort to advance.)
But first base is "protected" anyway because the BR can overrun with impunity following a batted ball.
So, thinking again, I'd say the BR cannot be obstructed unless he makes an effort to advance PRIOR to the obstruction. (Trick plays would abound if he could draw a base AFTER some fielder bumped him slightly.)
I can be persuaded in either direction, but I'm tending now to believe it is a trainwreck. After all, that often happens between BR and F3 in the vicinity of first. Why should F4 be any different?
I look forward to other replies.
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