Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich Ives
MD said: "If you have a batter clearly taking, don't pick this nit."
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Rich
batter doesn't swing because he's there
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These are two COMPLETELY different things.
If the batter is clearly taking the pitch, then the catcher didn't obstruct anything. If not, and there's ANY indication that the batter didn't swing because the catcher was there, it's obstruction. This is fairly easy to delineate - as the batter is not generally looking at the catcher, and only picks him up in his peripheral vision at the last possible instant. The batter's entire body changes when he's thinking about swinging, and anyone who's been around the game and paid any attention at all can see that.