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Originally posted by WestMichBlue
I struggle with this concept of ignoring subsequent action when determining protected base.
To suggest that a fielding error may result from the location of a runner due to obstruction, as mcrowder suggest is, IMO, trying to justify your decision based on unknown and unidentifiable actions of a fielder. A bobble is very real. It happened. I dont care why, but it may have created an opportunity to advance another base. But to justify another base in your mind you have to evaluate the bobble. How far away is the ball? How long did it take to recover the ball? By whom? Is it a shorter or longer throw to the next base? How fast is the runner? How fast did the runner react to the opportunity?
I believe that obstruction is a continuously opening action. A ball is hit to LCF and your initial reaction is routine double. But routine double is probably for an average runner and fielder. What happens when you start taking to runner to second and suddenly realize that she is faster than blazes and you need to change your angle and start moving towards 3B? What happens if the CF is a step slow reacting and the LF plays the ball and has to turn around to make the throw? What happens if the LF doesnt have a strong arm? What happens if the ball bounces three times into 3B and the runner is out by a half step? Can you sell that call that the runner went beyond her protected base after obstruction at 1B?
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If you read some of the posts closely, it is suggested that you allow for the action in the OF (on this particular play). What you don't allow for is if that three hopper bounces off F5's shin and the runner is thrown out at the plate when she tries to stretch the triple. The OBS has nothing to do with the runner's decision to continue after seeing the ball get away from F5.
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This happened to me last spring. High-level varsity game, I am in A. Ground ball to short, high throw to 1B, F3 reacts by stepping towards foul territory, collides with B-R. Both go down. IF either F9 or F2 are backing up the play then B-R is held to first base. But that did not happen; instead F3 scrambled to her feet to chase to ball to the fence and throw to 2B. B-R gets up and heads for 2B, changes mind and heads back. She is out sliding back into 1B.
IMO, F3 did not have a reasonable opportunity to prevent B-R from reaching 2B (had she not been obstructed). Thus I sent B-R to 2B. My decision is actually based on two defenders who failed to play correctly. Can you agree with that decision?
WMB
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Of course, because you made a decision based on the position of the players when the OBS occured. But what would you do if the runner never got up off the ground?