Quote:
Originally Posted by mbcrowder
This is not always the case. The umpire must decide which fielder is protected - and it can't be more than one. Sounds like in this case it was rather obvious, with the ball hit directly to F4 - but just because F3 doesn't touch the ball doesn't necessarily mean F4 is the protected fielder, and on a ball between them where BU feels F3 has the best play, you could indeed have OBS on F4 - even if neither fielder is able to actually get to it.
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I agree that protection can only be provided to one fielder. But it can move from one to another, based upon the circumstances.
In this play, for example, if R1 had run into F4 before or just as F3 was attempting to field the ball, you could judge that F3 was the protected fielder and call OBS on F4. But if the ball got past F3 and now F4 became the fielder most likely to make the play, and
then R1 collided with her, then INT would be the appropriate call.