Retaliatory Obstruction? Collision Follows TOR-BAL Spat

[Lindsay]

When Orioles pitcher Fernando Abad's right forearm connected with Blue Jays baserunner Lourdes Gurriel's left shoulder, HP Umpire Jim Wolf and 3B Umpire Shane Livensparger immediately identified obstruction, but was there more to this potentially malicious contact? With one out and Gurriel on...

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[Senor Azul]

According to the 2016 BRD, in its section on malicious contact (section 348, p. 232) the MLB issued the following interpretation in February 2014—

Official Interpretation:  Torre:  The umpire has the right to eject (a player) from the game if it’s (the contact) blatant, and he’d be automatically out.”