Obstruction question

[Carl Childress]

Steve:

The PBUC ruling refers to the defense who makes a play on an obstructed runner. For example, the defender chases and tags him, or the runner runs into a tag at a protected base. Naturally, the umpire calls "Time" and enforces the penalty.

But play continues solely so the runner can make extra bases.

The instant he is trapped in a rundown, the obstruction must be penalized. Otherwise, there might be post-obstruction evidence. Note that nothing in the PBUC refers to a runner caught in a rundown.

On the other hand, J/R does cover such a play (as I'm sure you discovered):

R2 is obstructed by the third baseman and rounds third aggressively. "R2 falls and is returning to third when the throw to third beats him by several steps and [look, I can underline, too: grin] causes him to accept a rundown: time is imposed and the runner's return is protected.

That looks pretty good to me, and it certainly doesn't supplant the PBUC ruling; rather, it supplements it.

Wouldn't you agree?



[Edited by Carl Childress on Dec 1st, 2001 at 07:49 AM]