quote:
Originally posted by POLOGREEN:
If a runner is diving back to 1st on a pickoff attempt and is obstructed by the firstbaseman does he get 2nd or just back to 1st ? I would think he gets second base on the obstruction.
Also when does the obstruction occur? If the throw brings the fielder into the runner...no obs, but if the fielder blocks the bag without the ball obs?
1. Under FED, if you call OBS you MUST put the runner at 2nd. A better way to handle it might be to just call the runner safe (no OBS), unless its blatant.
2. Generally (meaning HTBT), if the throw brings the fielder into the runner, it is an automatic train wreck - neither INT nor OBS.
3. "Blocking the base" is not specific enough. The fielder (without the ball) must allow the runner "access" to the base. FED interprets "access" to mean access to part of the edge of the base toward which the runner is advancing, but not necessarily the part most advantageous to the runner.
