Quote:
Originally Posted by blueit
What I'm being advised is to ignore the comments in the casebook & apply a rule that doesn't say when to declare dead ball, but is generally considered to imply that dead ball should be declared when the "out" happens.
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WRT timing, the rule book is very clear.
1. DDB is signalled at the time of obstruction. 8.4.3b Penalty. Means that you will call DB sometime in the future.
2. DB
immediately when the obstructed runner is put out
prior to reaching the base she would be awarded had obstruction not occured. 8.4.3b Penalty (a). This would also include between the two bases she was obstructed.
Understand that the runner
cannot be called out by rule. If you say nothing, the offense or defense may become confused due your no-call. So you kill the play right then and there.
3. Call runner out if she is past the protected base, keep the ball live, and call dead ball at the end of playing action. 8.4.3b Penalty (b)
4. If the obstructed runner is never put out, call DB at the end of playing action. (Assumed).
What to do with other runners is not clear from the text. So allow me to enter my two cents worth.
A - IF you call DB when the obstructed runner is put out, you have suspended other runners at that instant. You, and your partner are required to quickly find other runners and to place them where you think they would have ended
had you not killed the play. General rule-of-thumb is 50/50; if they are more than halfway, send them to next base. Otherwise return them to prior base.
B - if play ends normally and then you call DB to make awards, the only time you have to be concerned about other runners is when you put the obstructed runner on a base occupied by another runner. If that happens, the obstructed runner gets that base, and the other runner must vacate and go forward or back.
Assume you award the obstructed runner to 3B, but during the play the lead runner decided not to go home and is now back on 3B. Send her home.
Assume you award the obstructed runner back to 2B, but the batter-runner went all the way to 2B. Send her back to 1B.
Hope that helps.
WMB