Would you call obstruction?

[mcrowder]

Sighs upon sighs.

"Your scenario is not an obstruction call until.. the player blocks the base without the ball."

Even THIS is not exactly true.

It is not obstruction until a player in the basepath (straddling, not straddling is immaterial) without the ball... AND IT AFFECTS THE RUNNER'S ACTIONS.

You could have F5 sitting squarely on third base without the ball. If the runner does not react to it (or be affected by it), it's NOT obstruction.

"The fielder is required to give the offense a view of the base." --- no such requirement exists. Point me to the rule that states the base must be visible to a runner.