Malicious contact or nothing?

[MikeStrybel]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

I don't believe I've ever heard you be one of those "He gave the runner part of the base" people. But this smacks of it. Yes, the runner CAN slide, but forcing him to is obstruction. Yes, the onus is on the runner to avoid the collision, but if he does so at a point in time that the catcher doesn't have the ball, then he's been obstructed. The instant he does anything to avoid the collision, he's been obstructed.

Further... if he causes the runner to change his path, how can you say the catcher did not impede the runner.

Simple, he didn't.

he is not forcing a runner to slide, nor am I. He is awaiting a throw and in a perfect world, that throw would be to the 3B side of the dish. I have rarely seen a high school catcher do everything I expect nor an outfielder make perfect throws every time.

Forcing a runner to slide is not obstruction unless I see a fake tag.

In the OP, the runner could have avoided the collision but CHOSE not to. Okay, I'll give you that it was HTBT but we all know what 3BE extended means. It doesn not mean on top of the dish. I have witnessed plenty of runners veer off to grab a bat the instant they touched and get ready to assist the following runner. The runners around here are pretty good at controlling their actions. From my time calling ball in Texas I know they are as well.

Hope your season is going well.