I'll help you out Steve. It's time for Windy to get an education on the Official Rules of Baseball as their written.
Here goes Windy, so please keep up.
From the User's Guide page of the Official Rules of Baseball:
The Case Book of the Official Basball Rules Committee (in shaded boxes). This material interprets and elaborates on the language of the Official Baseball Rules, providing insight into the Rules Committee's intent when drafting the Official Rules.
Now, on to the casebook on this play.
7.09(L):
When a catcher and batter runner going to first base have contact when the catcher is fielding the ball, there is generally no violation and nothing should be called. "Obstruction" by a fielder attempting to field a ball should be called only in very flagrant and violent cases because the rules give him the right of way, but of course such "right of way" is not a license to, for example, intentionally trip a runner even though fielding the ball. If the catcher is fielding the ball and the first baseman or pitcher obstructs a runner going to first base "obstruction" shall be called and the base runner awarded first base.
Tim.
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