Last night's (Sunday) Tigers-Orioles game.

[rbmartin]

Rule 2.00 (Obstruction) Comment: ... It is entirely up to the judgment of the umpire as to whether a fielder is in the act of fielding a ball. After a fielder has made an attempt to field a ball and missed, he can no longer be in the “act of fielding” the ball. ...


Since the fielder simply misplayed the throw before any contact occurred, I would concur that it probably should have been obstruction.

[JJ]

I wonder if the 2nd base umpire was aware the ball was dropped? I thought that may have been why the 3rd base umpire came in right away after the play.
How they did NOT have obstruction on this is beyond me.

JJ

[umpjim]

Originally Posted by JJ

I wonder if the 2nd base umpire was aware the ball was dropped? I thought that may have been why the 3rd base umpire came in right away after the play.
How they did NOT have obstruction on this is beyond me.

JJ

It has been rationalized elsewhere. umpire-empire.com and close call sports. I think they are right for one part of the fielders body but not the other.