[PeteBooth]

Originally posted by greymule

Pete: The DP you mention, where obstruction is ignored, is very similar to a play I posted last year. Abel on 2B, Baker on 1B, 2 out. Charles hits a smash that F5 backhands on a hop, right next to 3B. Just before F5 steps on the bag for the third out, Abel trips over F6. Is the OBR ruling that Abel is out, or is this still in dispute?

The key question in OBR Type "B" at least the way I NOW understand it based on recent rulings from the WUA is this.

Absent the obstruction which base IF ANY would the runner be entitled to which is judgement on the part of the umpire.

So in your play if Abel would have been out by a mile if he wasn't obstructed by F6 allow the play to stand.

IMO the difficulty in understanding OBR is that on a similar scenario if a play was being made on the runner ie; Type "A" the runner gets a base irregardless if he /she would have been out by a mile or not.

Let's take my example above except this time F6 ALREADY releases the ball and a play is being made on R1. Now we have Type "A" and R1 is awarded second base.

IMO, even with the WUA ruling, I think OBR needs to clean-up their obstruction rule as it is still ambiguous depending on the situation.

FED cleared it up. The defense commits an infraction and they are penalized.

Pete Booth