Obstruction questions

[bentRim]

2 Questions about obstruction.

1. Runner from 1st was caught in a run down between 2b and 3b. Third baseman runs the runner back a ways and throws to SS. The runner then turns back towards 3rd, runs around the third baseman, and gets to third safe. The SS never threw the ball back to the third baseman. The runner was called out for running out of the baseline. It was explained that had the runner ran into the third baseman it would have been ruled obstruction, but since he ran around him, he was out. Blown call?

2. 1st baseman is set to catch a ball fielded by the SS. The ball short hops and gets by the 1st baseman. In turning to run down the ball the first baseman un-intentionally interferes with the runner turning to take second. The runner stays on first. Should the runner have been awarded second?

Thanks for the help.

[mcrowder]

1. Blown call, maybe twice. He's not out for running out of the basepath unless he does so to avoid a tag. And he was obstructed when he had to go around 3B, and doesn't have to make contact for obstruction to exist.

2. HTBT, but that's umpire's judgement. (BTW, fielders don't interfere, they obstruct) If BU feels F3's obstruction prevented the batter from achieving 2nd base where she otherwise would have, you put her on 2nd. If not, you put her on first. Depends a LOT on how far that ball rolled away.

[bluezebra]

"1. Runner from 1st was caught in a run down between 2b and 3b. Third baseman runs the runner back a ways and throws to SS. The runner then turns back towards 3rd, runs around the third baseman, and gets to third safe. The SS never threw the ball back to the third baseman. The runner was called out for running out of the baseline. It was explained that had the runner ran into the third baseman it would have been ruled obstruction, but since he ran around him, he was out. Blown call?"

KABOOM!!!