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Tap,
There are two types of obstruction under OBR.
Type A (7.06(a)) or Type B (7.06(b)).
The short difference is in Type A a play is being made on the obstructed runner and in Type B the ball is somewhere else on the field.
Type A obstruction results in a immediate dead ball and penalties applied with the minimun award of at least one advance base to the obstructed runner.
Type B is treated similar to the obstruction rule in softball, in which playing action is allowed to end, and the umpire is to "impose such penalties, if any, as in his judgement will nullify the act of obstruction."
Aparently U3 in the play at hand either felt that Santiago was not making a legitimate attempt to advance (ie he was only rounding 3rd) or that even absent the obstruction he would not have made home. I think he felt he was only rounding.
Other experienced umpires has postulated that if Santiago had attempted to score he would have been protected to home.
Roger Greene
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