A play in CWS

[mcrowder]

On the play in question, Baylor's catcher was set up with his left foot about on the baseline, reaching slightly toward right field. R2 rounds third and was slightly ahead of the ball. F2 moves into the basepath right as runner is getting there, and they collide. R2 moved his arms to the front of his body - could have been to Pete Rose the catcher, could have been in defense - I rewound several times to rewatch and could not determine intent one way or the other. The umpire on the scene immediately signalled obstruction.

R2 barely touched the plate with his hand on the way by as he was falling. Ball was never caught, and passed through the area just slightly after contact. (F2 was not even looking at the ball when contact was made - but that could have been out of fear for the impeding collision). F1 retrieved the ball and dove toward R2 as R2 touched home again.

Coach argued very briefly for interference, but it was cordial and, as I said, brief.

I think it was called correctly, and was likely way more difficult a call (either way) in full speed than it was for me in slowmo with multiple replays. An INT call would not have shocked me. A ejection on the runner didn't even enter my mind until Reynolds brought it up.