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The devil rays lost a game to the mariners last year on visual obstruction in the 9th.
Yes, I saw the game and the play. The ejection of the manager was a predictable consequence.
From J/R: "It is obstruction if a fielder intentionally impedes a runner (e.g., trips, pins, grabs or tackles him, blocks vision, etc.)." This is not in the rule book, but it's an interpretation. The key to this is umpire's judgement on what is intentional. From the scenario described it sounds like a planned play, thus intentional.
J/R while a most helpful publication is not an official MLB case book. It has contained some interpretations that conflict with others and, as in this case, some that are not universally accepted by professionals. I believe the jury may still out on "visual" obstruction, especially in a scenario such as this in which the runner can merely and safely adjust.
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GB
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