[mcrowder]

I'm in agreement with Steve. By the book, and by interpretations of the exceptions I've been given in clinics, LBR would trump OBS. I also agree, however, that you have to use the God Rule to keep the defense from benefitting from their transgression here.

But in a more liberal sense - if the LBR was not CAUSED BY the OBS, as it is in the OP, then you would have to rule an out (for instance, round 1st, stop, continue, get OBS'd, continue, and then stop again - there the LBR is not caused by the OBS - it's a further transgression by the runner not allowed by rules).

An internal email (not sure why they didn't just post this, since it's interesting, but I'll leave their anonymity in tact...) switched the situation just a tad - and leaves us in a conundrum (well, it would leave Steve and I... I think Andy would simply have OBS and put the runner at 2nd).

Sitch 3, we'll call it:

BR rounds first, comes to a full stop, decides to proceed to 2nd. F1 oblivious or motionless, with ball in circle. BR crashes into F4, stopping, and RETURNS TO FIRST.

LBR? OBS? Was the LBR transgression, in this case, CAUSED BY the OBS, or was it a separate illegal act by the runner? I admit, this one has me wondering what I'd do if faced with it on the field.

Also - 1 question for Andy. Seems you'd rule that the OBS trumps the LBR. What base are you giving her? Would it matter if the collision got the pitcher's attention, and she fired to 2nd? If the contact happened, say, only 1/3 of the way to 2nd, do you award 2nd, or just back to 1st?