[aceholleran]

Geniuses abound in this wonderful game. Even in a state championship small-ball game.

This particular Dumbledore watched as I called delayed OBS on F5, contacting R2 on his arrival at 3B. F6 was just receiving the rock not far from 2B.

Genius: "UMP! HE GETS HOME! HE GETS HOME!!"

Like most of us, I eschew palaver whilst the ball is alive. F6 is also contemplating picking R3 off 3B, which he has rounded. I silently decide that I'm not going to protect R3 anywhere. He has paused too much for a legitimate chance at scoring; the OBS has come and gone; no one is blocking his return to 3B. I pray to St. Nestor Chylak for F6 to play on R3 ... and then tension convention that would ensue. Alas, this was not to be.

Finally, ball goes back to F1, R3 retreats safely to 3B, and PU calls time to do some housekeeping.

Genius: "But you called obstruction!"

Me: "That is correct."

Genius: "He gets the base he's going to, plus one, so he scores."

Me: "That is incorrect."

Inning ends soon thereafter, with R3 mired at 3B. Our budding Stengel is not happy, nor is he truculent.

I stroll back to his dugout with him, giving a pithy explanation of delayed OBS; no mandatory award, etc. [FWIW, LL=OBR rules here]. I ended with, "Plus, if I were going to award him anything, I would have called 'time.'"

Here's what I got back, "But why didn't you answer me when I asked you a question?"

I think I retorted with a mini-gem: "Coach, the ball was alive. I didn't want to get into a conversation with you so that you could better counsel your player." That's what I said. Harrumph.

Curiouser and curiouser,

Ace