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Originally Posted by mashie59
So we can all agree then that a first baseman can get in the way of a the player running to first base when he does not have the ball.
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Other than you, no one has made such a comment.
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The baserunner should then yield to the first baseman, slow down, and allow the first baseman to get in his way while he waits for the ball.
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Absolutely.
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So this provides a clear advantage to the first baseman in slowing up the base runner and giving himself a clear advantage slowing down the runner. Why not come down the first baseline a few more steps and really give yourself, as the first baseman. an even better advantage?
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That is why there are rules in the game and those rules do not include physical assaults of other players. As any 9th grader knows, that would be obstruction which protects the offense from being put out between the bases where this obstruction occurred. This apparently obscure (to you) rule even allows the umpire to award the runner any additional bases the runner would have attained safely, in the umpire's judgment, had the obstruction not occurred. However, this rule is void if the obstructed runner commits an act of interference. D'oh ! !
Thank you for playing.