[Rich]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

blueump and Rich F.:



This is why the runner is out. Rich, why is "close enough to the base" the same as being on the base? From what Nick said, the throw arrived before the runner, so it was not obstruction. It is perfectly legal for F3 to block the base from the runner.

Had the runner been an intelligent person, he would have dove back in and wrapped his meathook around the base. By coming in standing up on a close play, he opened himself up to being called out to begin with.

Rich later asked how Nick could be certain the runner didn't have part of his foot on the base. What???? That is exactly where the umpire is looking. I have no trouble seeing the position of runners' feet in relation to the bases. I don't care if I'm in B, C, or D, E, or F for that matter. If F3 has his foot between the runner and the base, and the runner is on the foot and not the base, he is out when tagged with the ball. I don't see what the problem with that is.

You wouldn't.