Obstruction - to what base?

[WestMichBlue]

Will you protect an obstructed runner to a base beyond which the runer attempted to advance to, if they are not put out?

Lets say a ball hit between the outfielders, a potential double. B-R and F3 collide and B-R goes down. B-R gets up, looks at 2B, but F8 has ball and is throwing back to infield, so B-R returns to 1B.

Do you call time, and send B-R to 2B? Do you attempt to judge the athletic ability of the runner to determine if they would have made it without the obstruction? Ie., Wheels Wanda would have make it easily, but doubtfull if Lumbering LuAnn had a chance. Does it make a difference if Wheels does a flip and is instantly on her feet, but LuAnn is slow to pick herself up?

WMB

[bluezebra]

In your situation, I would award the BR 2B on the obstruction. If I judged she could have reached 3B or home, I would send her there.

[FUBLUE]

The whole concept is to protect the runner to the base she would have reached if not obstructed. If Wanda would have reached third, IN YOUR OPINION, then she gets third. If LuAnn would only have made second, giver her second. Heck, if she's really slow, maybe she would only have reached first safely (had there been no obstruction). It's all a judgment call based on your judgment of the runners ability.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally posted by WestMichBlue
Will you protect an obstructed runner to a base beyond which the runer attempted to advance to, if they are not put out?

Lets say a ball hit between the outfielders, a potential double. B-R and F3 collide and B-R goes down. B-R gets up, looks at 2B, but F8 has ball and is throwing back to infield, so B-R returns to 1B.

Do you call time, and send B-R to 2B? Do you attempt to judge the athletic ability of the runner to determine if they would have made it without the obstruction? Ie., Wheels Wanda would have make it easily, but doubtfull if Lumbering LuAnn had a chance. Does it make a difference if Wheels does a flip and is instantly on her feet, but LuAnn is slow to pick herself up?

WMB

I use all the information available to me to determine which base THAT player would have reached had the obstruction not occurred.

[whiskers_ump]

I agree with FU, BZ, and Mike. Certainly protected to
2B, but if in your judgement she would have made 3B, give
it to her. Sounds like 2B - good choice.

[Andy]

Obstruction is a violation on the defense. If in any doubt at all, award the next base.

My feeling is that the defense violated, penalize them for it!

The base you award is a judgement call, my judgement will always faveor the offense in an obstruction situation.