Obstruction Rule application

[mcrowder]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

The above "batter who is out on a fly ball is not entitled to advance and therefore cannot be obstructed" seems to be all we need to say.

True, but it would be nice if that was codified. I think it's common sense, but it's not specified in the rulebook, and I believe that if two lawyers fighting opposite sides on this and using just the rulebook, the verdict would be on the non-common sense side of the equation.

When you consider that protest situations often end up in the laps of folks less knowledgable about the usage of the rules and simply rule based on what the book actually says, I can definitely see a protest going the wrong way on this.

(Of course, how many of us would have somehow not seen the OBS during a pop fly?!?! )