Play at the plate

[jicecone]

And that was my point about the position of F2. Two people meeting at the same location is most likely going to involve contact, almost unavoidable, yet not necessarily result in a penalty or rule infraction.

Now, in the baseline if the runner has a chance to avoid contact and does not, I have an out and have actually made that call. You tend to get this when a catcher is standing in the baseline watching the action and the runner doesn't want to go around, just because.

To me, an umpires ability to discern that fine line between obstruction, contact (malaicious or avoidable) and nothing at all, defines his true understanding of the rules.

[dash_riprock]

I'm trying (unsuccessfully) to envision a situation where a runner is called out pursuant to 8-4-2-(c), and interference is NOT called (ball stays live).