Another INT/OBS Question

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by youngump

I'm not sure I understand why she'd have to be able to make the play. If the ball hits the ground before she gets there, she's going to field it anyway, no? To prevent the runner from going home?

I've been thinking this through this whole thread. For a batted ball, "making a play" is not the standard. "Attempting to field" is the standard. In the OP, the umpire has to make a judgment on which fielder is protected by the "attempting to field" standard. If it is the back-peddling F6, it is interference. If it is another fielder (F5, F8, whoever), it is obstruction. There is no requirement that a rule-book definition PLAY be involved at all, and there certainly is no "ordinary effort" standard on making a catch.