Quote:
Originally Posted by mbcrowder
Which "you" were you responding to? 
You have to decide which fielder is protected. Period. Unless you're dealing with a runner struck by a ball, none of the other stuff mentioned matters. If you had F5 protected, and F5 deflects the ball to F6, F6 is not suddenly protected --- but the runner STILL must avoid the ball (assuming F6 has a play). |
Mike,
No, if the ball is deflected by F5, then the runner is absolved of liability for being unintentionally hit by the (deflected) ball.
If F6 DOES have a legitimate opportunity to make a play on the deflected ball (in the umpire's judgment) then he IS protected and the runner must avoid him.
JM