Offsetting Penalties

[mstaylor]

Rich no coaching clinic needed. You DO NOT convert Type B into Type A

Example which is the way I am interpreting the OP. In the OP all that was said is throw coming in.

ground ball to outfield. F8 fields the ball and throws the ball to F5, however, in rounding second base R2 is obstructed by F6. At the time of the OBS we had Type "B" because even though the INTENT of the fielder was to throw out R2 the ball was being fielded or the outfielder fielded the ball and started his throwing motion towards F5. The throw to F5 is subsequently a bullseye. It is STILL type B because you do NOT convert Type B into Type A. When F5 makes a tag attempt on R2 NOW we "kill it"

Just because a fielder fields the ball and his intent is to throw out R2 is not Type A. An ACTUAL play on the runner needs to be performed which IMO is what the interp in the MLBUM is referring to.

A play is defined as an act on the part of the defense in putting out a runner. If the throw is off-line etc. what difference does it make what the intent of the fielder was. A PLAY has NOT yet commenced in accordance with the definition, hence Type B OBS.

As the MLBUM interp says the throw has to be in a DIRECT LINE towards the fielder. In the OP it's unclear.

if you remember "back in the day" at eteamz there was a HUGE debate on a similar issue.

FWIW: if this was a FED game the point is moot because ALL OBS is delayed dead and we wait until ALL playing action ceases before enforcing.

Pete Booth

You are absolutely correct in everything you say here, the problem is the OP has the ball coming to third base, that makes it type A. The confusion here may be is the obstruction wasn't explained so it was unclear how the F5 was fielding the ball and obstructing. I can see it happening but it was unclear.