[greymule]

This play from the ASA case book should help:

Play 8.6-12

R1 on 2B. B2 gets a base hit. R1 after rounding 3B is obstructed by F1. At the time of the obstruction, in the umpire's judgment, R1 could not have made home. The throw was already back in the infield. R1 is returned to 3B. F2 cuts the throw and retires B2 at 2B. R1 breaks for home and is tagged out at the plate on the return throw. Ruling: At the time of the obstruction, R1 could not have made home. The ball remains alive. The out at 2B stands. With the tag of R1 at home, the ball becomes dead. Return R1 to 3B.

Before reading this case play, I would have said that once the obstruction on R1 had no more bearing, he was again liable to be put out, but the ruling establishes that R1's immunity persists throughout the entire action.

The wording above is a little misleading. "R1 is returned to 3B" makes it sound as if play has stopped and the umpire is putting R1 back on 3B. However, it means simply that R1 is entitled to 3B (not home). "The throw was already back in the infield" is also loosely attached and should have been incorporated logically into the preceding sentence. They don't hire professional editors at ASA.

Apparently, if you've been obstructed, you might as well try to reach the next base, even if you have little chance of making it and even after an intervening play. You can't be put out between the bases where you were obstructed. Whether or not the play you were out on was close doesn't matter.

Here's one for the philosphers: What if R1 takes off from 2B on a long fly and is between 3B and home when the outfielder catches the ball. As R1 tries to return to 2B, he is obstructed by F5 between 3B and home. R1 tags 3B anyway and as he is running back toward 2B to tag up, the defense throws the ball away. R1 tags up at 2B, tries to advance, and (a) is put out at 3B, or (b) is put out at home.

Can R1 now be put out between the bases where he was obstructed? How about between 2B and 3B?