Quote:
Originally posted by bluejay
I agree with Dakota. Show the delayed dead ball signal and then drop it. Running around the infield with your arm out looks kind of funny any way.
I also agree with another post in this thread that you can not decide on how far to protect until the play is over. Say a runner is bumped or slightly obstructed rounding first base on a hit to the out field and then is tagged out on a bang bang play at third. If the umpire decides he will protect only to second (and considering nothing else wierd happened on the play), how can the runner be called out at third if the obstruction kept him from arriving safely. I know this is not the way Oklahoma City teaches but it sure makes more sense to me.
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How to rule on an obstruction cannot be generalized and must be handled on a play-by-play basis.
For example, if a player is obstructed rounding 1B while the ball is dropped in the OF. If OF recovers and throws the ball in, I've got it in my mind I'm protecting the runner to 2B. So, the player pulls into 2B as the throw is cut-off by F4. In his eagerness to check the runner, F4 turns quickly and drops the ball. The runner (Superman in mind, D ballplayer in fact) decides to make a dash for 3B. I am not protecting that runner to 3B.
Now, same play, just this time the OF cannot get a grip on the ball and makes a very weak throw to the IF. Same runner hesitates at 2B, but sees the bobble and continues to 3B. It is a good possibility that I will protect this runner to 3B since the OF bobbled the ball and showed no sign of getting it into the IF in a timely fashion, I could not make a judgment until I saw the play develop.