Quote:
Originally posted by CecilOne
For discussion, ignore the issue of whether the umpire should or should not have responded.
For now, ignore whether the umpire actually did respond or not.
What if R1 made it safely to 2nd? Would you penalize her because F1 asked a question while she was stealing? Carrying it further, if you saw R1 hesitate when F1 asked the question, would you consider obstruction (verbal)? If you would have called the runner safe, why not call the runner out?
Is the "umpire performing duties" only if the umpire responds, or also if F1 asks and the presumption is that the ump will respond (sooner or later).
Now answer the questions again with the umpire responding and then agian with the umpire giving the count without being asked.
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I don't think you can really ignore the umpire's disposition as that is what determines whether the ball is active or not.
If the umpire(s) is not distracted, then it is play-on until something occurs which would call for a stoppage of play.
You cannot rule obstruction as this is a legitimate question.
This entire thread comes down to game control by the umpire.