Obstruction

[umpjim]

Originally Posted by Matt

Ok, I was referring to the OP, not the video...short of a defender laying on top of home plate for hours on end or contact that sends a runner flying into DBT (both infinitesimally likely,) OBS can never be the proximate cause of a runner missing home. He's no longer liable to be put out, he has no other responsibilities, he can come back and touch it.

Not a fan of making a runner touch on OBS that causes him to miss a base. I get the logic, but it's also contrary to other FED logic that takes things out of our hands. In this case, they expect a runner to be further disadvantaged by mandating he touch a missed base and for us to consider that in our awards.

I would agree that in the OP the runner should come back and touch HP if the umpire said "time, that's obstruction, you HP". If the umpire said "that's obstruction, safe", I would not hold the runner responsible but the OP umpire might anyway if he mistakenly used that mechanic. If I mistakenly used that mechanic, which is possible in the heat of the moment, I would not rule the runner out.