Is this obstruction?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Larry1953

(where I am sure R3 would have been called for MC for the collision if the ball was knocked loose).

If R3 would have been called for MC if the ball was knocked loose, then he should have been called for MC in your play.

As I envisioned your play, it was likely OBS. It could have been a trainwreck. It *was* HTBT.

On the "act of fielding" issue. In OBR, a fielder can block the base if he's in "the act of fielding" a throw. In LL (I think -- I don't work LL), it used to be that way. I think they've removed that so he now has to have the ball.

That said, that rule generally applies only when a fielder is setting up to block the base. If a throw takes him into the path, then it's (usually) nothing.

[Larry1953]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

If R3 would have been called for MC if the ball was knocked loose, then he should have been called for MC in your play.

As I envisioned your play, it was likely OBS. It could have been a trainwreck. It *was* HTBT.

On the "act of fielding" issue. In OBR, a fielder can block the base if he's in "the act of fielding" a throw. In LL (I think -- I don't work LL), it used to be that way. I think they've removed that so he now has to have the ball.

That said, that rule generally applies only when a fielder is setting up to block the base. If a throw takes him into the path, then it's (usually) nothing.

About the MC issue....As I recall, the "runner must slide myth" and MC rulings were coming into vogue when that play happened 15 years ago. My point was that the high school age ump was very likely more in tune to making that hot topic call than contemplate the nuances of obstruction. Just about anytime a runner knocked a fielder over when a tag was being applied and especially if the ball came loose, the runner was usually called out and often ejected. In the interest of safety, I never argued such a call. It was sometimes even made in rundown situations with the ball coming over the runners shoulder and the fielder making split second adjustments that caused him to get plowed. But it was better to teach the kids to try to avoid hurting each other.