Under the new NFHS rule for the catcher blocking the plate, am I right that technically the catcher cannot set up in front of the plate without the ball?
Scenario: runner on 3rd, ground ball to third baseman. Catcher sets up in front of plate, ball arrives before runner, tag made, runner called out.
Third base coach argued that there must be a clear path to the plate until the catcher has the ball. Because in this case the catcher set up in front of the plate anticipating the throw, that it constituted obstruction, and the runner should be safe.
As I understand the new rule, I think the coach is correct.
What do you guys say?
A related question: if the catcher sets up in the basepath with is feet straddling the plate, would the fact that the plate is accessible between the catcher's legs constitute "a clear path to the plate?"
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