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I agree with the descriptions by Irish and mcrowder on how ASA wants it called, but my fundamental disagreement is, I guess, with the underlying principle of no penalty.
We have gone around and around on this topic (not to say that I am objecting to going around again - only acknowledging the previous discussions), and even within my own mind I have not been consistent in my position(s) on this.
Here is the problem that is not addressed adequately, in my view: the rule and interpretation seem to be from the position of a fielder who just happens to get in the way, recognizing that there are a lot of players in the infield area and sometimes people will get in the way of each other - OK, no harm, no foul, just fix it. What seems to not be addressed is what is clearly happening - not all the time, for sure, but often enough - coached or intentional obstruction. Positioning of players so that they ARE in the way, etc.
Short of USC, there is little the umpire can do except warn players or "judge" a greater base award, which, speaking ASA, is going contrary to how the association wants the game called.
[Edited by Dakota on Jan 27th, 2006 at 12:32 PM]
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Tom
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