Thread: Just checking..
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Old Fri Sep 30, 2005, 10:56am
Andy Andy is offline
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Glendale, AZ
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This is a classic HTBT to see the whole play, but based on the info you provided.....

It can't be Obstruction since the catcher had the ball prior to the contact with the runner. This is assuming that the runner did not alter her path prior to the catcher possessing the ball. That leaves two options:

1) First of all, there is no "must slide" rule in any code that I am aware of. However, most, if not all, of the major rulesets have a "must slide or avoid" rule. If, in the judgement of the umpire, the runner was attempting to avoid the catcher and there were no malicious actions by the runner, it's no call, runner is safe.

2) There is also a rule that states that a runner cannot deliberately remain on her feet and "crash" into the defender with the ball. If, in the judgement of the umpire, the runner remained on her feet and intentionally "crashed" into the catcher, the call would be dead ball, interference, runner is out. If the contact between the runner and the catcher was judged to be malicious, the runner would also be ejected.

Sounds like the umpires in this game chose option 1. I would be interested in knowing why they had to confer, unless they were determining if there was any malicious contact and an ejection was necessary.
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