Quote:
Originally Posted by blueit
But that's what's been suggested above. Umpire should award a base (a "more than halfway" rule of thumb was suggested) to a runner who hasn't been affected by the obstruction. The runner was rounding 2B when the obs. occurred at home plate.
Or in the 8.4.3 Sit A example, the runner between 1B & 2B wasn't affected by the obstruction occurring at SS. Yet is she awarded 2B? (She can't be put on 1B, where the batter is.)
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As above, the
timing of the OBS has
nothing to do with the placement of other runners. Because
time out is required on an
apparent putout (the non-out above) of an obstructed runner, we must do something with the other runners. In the OP, the runner can't be left standing between 2nd and 3rd, or in the case, left standing between 1st and 2nd.
Rule 8.4.3,b penalty A defines when the dead ball / time out is called. Besides any other runners affected by the OBS, placement of additional runners is a
judgement. No advancement on their own can occur with time out or a dead ball. The other runner(s) are
not "awarded" bases, they are
placed on a base because they have to be on one or the other.
Whether the time out makes sense to you is not the point, it is the prescribed procedure; so we are stuck with the result.