Obstruction?

[Dakota]

LOL!

Yo, Mike...



However, both of the situations I asked about were UNintentional.

If it is permissible to rule the runner safe when a fielder with the ball pushes the runner off the base for the tag, why is it not permissible to rule the runner safe when a fielder with the ball trips the runner to make the tag?

If a fielder with the ball can never be guilty of obstruction, no matter what, then it is no matter what, isn't it? Aren't you left with either USC or OUT?

Understand, I don't disagree with the call on pushing off the base. I'm just wondering why you can apply that reasoning to the push situation but not the tripping situation.