Obstruction in Cluster**** after D3K

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by Andy

What I want to know is why do we still have umpires that continue to look for reasons not to call obstruction instead of calling it and administering it correctly?????

C'mon now, Andy, we have all heard the "reasons" over and over.

Not rewarding 'x' for whatever 'x' didn't do, even though 'y' violated.
'Y' was just doing whatever 'y' does, so that shouldn't count against them.
'X' wouldn't have been safe anyway, so 'x' shouldn't be rewarded.
'X' abandoned running.
'X' picked a path to run that caused 'Y' to violate.
And, that isn't the 'intent' of the rule.

Did I miss any?

Related, I had a member of my group locally tell me just yesterday that another member (one who posts here, too) told him yesterday that it isn't obstruction on an attempted steal of second if runner is forced to change her path to avoid the covering defender chasing an errant throw, assumably because the fielder was just doing what she had to, to get the ball. He (the one asking me) seemed to know that couldn't be right, but said the other was adament enough to make him ask.