interference/obstruction?

[Bfair]

Simply summarized, a play is the act of a fielder attempting to retire a runner. Fielding a ground ball is not a play, otherwise, fielding a ground ball would be a first play by an infielder, and the throw would be the 2nd play. We all know that is not the case.

Unless this F3 is very well removed from R1, it's highly unlikely the obstruction occurred while a play is being made on R1 (a throw to retire him). The runner, being forced, would be breaking immediately on the ground ball, and would likely be well beyond F3 before any throw attempt occurs.

While Childress has attempted to liken the situation to a BR being obstructed before reaching first, that's not what the rule currently reads. I'll not disagree that Carl's analogy could be logical, but unfortunately it's not the current rule. That makes it speculation at this time. Hopefully Childress will obtain a ruling on this type play where a runner is dead meat, but some obstructive act occurs which might involve awarding a base that in all likelihood he would not have obtained if the obstruction had not occurred.

A member of a another forum had gone to a pro camp this past spring and asked his instructors regarding this type play. He reported back that all his instructors advised they would consider it a Type B obstruction and not award a base the runner would not have obtained if the obstruction did not occur. That fact, however, is purely hearsay information.


Just my opinion,

Freix