Obstruction?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally posted by woolnojg
Question - Did you see the catcher set-up? Did she set-up in the path or outside the path? If the set-up was before the play and in the basepath, obstruction.
If the set-up was outside the path and the catcher stepped into the path to receive the ball, no obstruction.
If the set-up was outside the path, the catcher steps into the path, and the ball is delayed in arriving after entry, then obstruction. The throw down from first takes a certain amount of time, if that time is exceeded with the catcher in the basepath, obstruction was intended.

Now speaking ASA as ISF is simply too black and white to be brought into the discussion.

Intention is irrelevant. Where the defender sets up is irrelevant. Where it took place on the field is irrelevant. If the defender does not have possession of the ball or about to receive the ball, it is obstruction. "About to receive" is defined as the ball becoming closer to the defender in question than the runner is to that defender.

So, it all comes down to whether the runner contacted the catcher prior to the catcher touching that ball. If so, it is obstruction. If not, it is a good play by the catcher.