Quote:
From an earlier post
And, where was the delayed dead ball signal from either BU or PU?
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No such signal in professional mechanics.
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Well, the only signal would be pointing at the obstruction and calling verbally "That's obstruction" and play would continue until all play would have ceased and no further action would be possible. Then there would be the time call and the umpire would impose penalties (if any).
But in this case, the batter-runner was obstructed before reaching first base. Therefore, the ball is immediately dead and the batter-runner is awarded first base.
I have not seen the play but according to what I read my judgement would be that the pitcher had a play on the ball in trying to scoop it. But since he did not have control over the ball he obstructed the batter-runner in chasing the ball.
We can not call the batter-runner out since he could not figure out that the pitcher would cross him.