Automatic Obstruction?

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by Dakota

This whole thing has gone from a poorly worded POE to a rule myth in an astonishingly short time.

This very misunderstanding is why I took issue very visibly (to the internet umpiring community) to the ASA POE last year.

See the editorial I wrote here. I was thinking maybe it is time to take that now nearly year old editorial down and put up something fresh. Maybe not.

It is unfortunately frequent that someone is rushing to finish or trying so hard to make a specific point; that other aspects are left out or assumed to be understood. It happens at many clinics, and in many changes in rule books. It is also a common reason for partially written test questions and as Tom said, it is often the basis of myths. For the rookies, the POE in question was intended to make the point possession of the ball was required to legitimately block a base; not just being in the process of catching it.