Malicious Contact

[Gre144]

Is malicious contact by the defense considered a dead ball or delayed dead ball? What is the penalty for the defense and do advancing runners during the time of the malicious contact get the next base?

[Thom Coste]

Malicious contact initiated by the defense would be either Obstruction if a play is in progress and the fielder does not have the ball, or unsportsmanlike conduct. Obstruction is a delayed dead ball situation so runners may continue to advance until playing action has stopped. Likewise, an unsportsmanlike act is not penalized while a play is in progress.

Either way, the guilty fielder is through for the day.