Quote:
Originally Posted by Illini_Ref
Assuming the contact is not malicious, I still think that under FED rules I have obstruction. I'm thinking that the runner gained access to the plate only because he knocked the catcher down. I don't like the FED rule that says the fielder has to possess the ball, but it is there. No ball and blocking access tells me that the runner is safe unless there is MC.
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I believe the rule is more about safety, and it gives the umpire a clearer definition of obstruction to go by. No ball, you don't belong there.
Previously there were a lot of train wrecks that were nothing more than that but, everyone saw it differently and you were dammed if you called it and dammed if you didn't. At least now there is more of an obvious indicator avaiable to the official, that can also be observed by others too. There was that fine line between where was the ball, did the runner try and avoid contact, was the contact malicious, was it just two people meeting at the same spot, at the same time.
Now , does that mean the public and coaches will understand any of this any better. Heck no. You will still get, "he has a right to go through the catcher because he was there". Go figure