[devilsadvocate]

"Further explain the bold underlinned portion of step 3.
I would find it very hard indeed to come up with any type
of obstruction while defensive player is in possession
of the ball and involved in the play."

glen and JJ

The type of obstruction that I would be thinking of, and I'm not sure even about but I think I've read this before, is where the fielder does something like grap the runner or trip the runner intentionally.

A scerario: The runner is going from second to third. For some reason, no fielder is covering third. F4 throws the ball to F6, who is standing between second and third. The throw is a little off, and the catch is made on the outfield side of the baseline between second and third. A split second after the catch is made (F6 now has possession) the runner is running past F6. He is within easy reach of the right hand of the fielder, but the ball is in the glove of the fielder (left hand) and he will have to spin around to actually tag the runner. Instead of spinning around and trying to tag the runner with the glove (which contains the ball), F6 grabs the runner with the right hand, holds him, then tags the runner with the glove.

This would seem like a case where, even though the fielder had possession of the ball, such an act would be obstruction.

JJ and Glen, other than that particular issue, is the post correct in "when" you can/can't block the base? Let's make this a working document, adding and subtracting as needed.


[Edited by devilsadvocate on Nov 2nd, 2001 at 08:54 AM]