Quote:
Originally Posted by SamG
Who has responsibility to avoid contact?
R1 on 1st. F3 &/or F4 lined up on the straight line path between 1st & 2nd. R1 attempts to steal... (batter doesn't swing. I know things change if a ball is hit to F3/F4).
a) R1 takes the direct line toward 2nd base and makes contact with F3 or F4.
b) R1 takes an indirect route (running behind F3/F4) to 2nd.
I've heard coaches teach baserunners to at least bump the fielders in order to draw an obstruction call.
I've heard coaches teach fielders to make sure they stand in the baseline in order to make the runners take a (slightly) longer path between bases.
What I've learned is a) is obstruction, b) is nothing. I have a problem telling girls to intentionally make contact with a member of the other team, but at the same time I have a problem teaching fielders to intentionally line up in the baseline.
What do the rules support?
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The runner has a right to go where they want but you shouldn't let the runner do something solely to draw an obstruction call. If a fielder is in the way and the runner deviates because of that we have obstruction. If the runner runs out to right field turns toward second and then has to deviate because the right fielder didn't get out of the way then we have obstruction. (The kind that gets the runner sent back to first of course).
If the runner is running to second and at the last second veers into the defender who isn't in the base path and draws contact that's not obstruction.
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ANGELINALOVE