If the catcher is blocking the plate

[DG]

The catcher must station himself to catch the ball that is thrown. If that is several feet up the 3B line then so beit. He is stil judged by me, the home plate umpire, as either ok, or obstruction, depending on where the ball is and whether he had to be there to recieve the throw. I can count on one hand the obstruction calls on catchers for blocking the plate when they do not have the right to do so. Being up the line to catch a ball that is thrown toward home is almost always nothing. In fact, I can't recall calling obstruction on a catcher who is moving up the line to catch a throw that is off-line.