Quote:
Originally posted by DG
Quote:
Originally posted by WhatWuzThatBlue
The most pressing point that has been missed is that R1 is not entitled to protection going back to first. He mistakenly thought it was a fly ball and ran into the fielder who was standing away from the base.
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I don't think I missed this most pressing point. "R1 is not obstructed since he can not return to 1B, he is forced to 2B. R1 is out on the play."
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This is the definition of 'moot', since we're all (I think) calling R1 out; however:
R1 isn't "entitled to protection" at any time he's running the bases until something like OBS is called. So whether to call OBS cannot hinge on whether he is "entitled to protection."
Although R1 is forced to 2B, he is not violating any base running rules by moving back toward 1B. Therefore, he is making a legitimate (albeit dumb) attempt to run the bases. If F3 hinders him, that's obstruction (type B, I think).
Two points in support of this claim: (1) the onus is on the defense to stay out of the way of the runner, unless they're making a play, so when they fail to do so, that's OBS.
(2) In a different kind of play, you might legitimately see a forced R1 move back to 1B. E.g. with R1, squibber in front of plate, BR hesitates, F2 grabs the ball and tags him. R1 sees the squib and takes a step toward 1B.
Suppose F3 hinders R1 before the tag on BR: you're not going to call OBS because R1 is not "entitled to protection" back to 1B, since at that moment he's forced?
And yeah, I know it's a different case: I'm using it to illustrate the more limited point that R1 has done nothing wrong and might be obstructed even if he steps back to 1B when forced to 2B. The different cases would warrant different penalties.
OK, that's my contribution to TWP follies...