Under obstruction rules, if only one of the conditions A or B occurs (A batter-runner reaches first; B all other runners advance at least one base), is the obstruction ignored?

Under obstruction rules, if only one of the conditions A or B occurs (A batter-runner reaches first; B all other runners advance at least one base), is the obstruction ignored?

• A. Yes.
• B. No.
• C. Only if the umpire calls it.
• D. Depends on the inning.

Answer: (B)

When a fielder obstructs a batter-runner or a runner not touching a base, the play is handled to keep fairness: the umpire calls Obstruction and awards bases as the obstructed runner would have reached if unobstructed. There’s a specific situation where the obstruction can be treated as if it didn’t happen: if, by the end of the play, the batter-runner would have reached first base and every other runner would have advanced at least one base. If both of those things occur, the obstruction can be ignored. If only one happens—either the batter-runner reaches first or all other runners advance at least one base, but not both—the obstruction is not ignored. In this question, only one of those conditions occurs, so obstruction is not ignored. The correct action is to call Obstruction and base awards reflect what would have occurred without the obstruction.

When a fielder obstructs a batter-runner or a runner not touching a base, the play is handled to keep fairness: the umpire calls Obstruction and awards bases as the obstructed runner would have reached if unobstructed. There’s a specific situation where the obstruction can be treated as if it didn’t happen: if, by the end of the play, the batter-runner would have reached first base and every other runner would have advanced at least one base. If both of those things occur, the obstruction can be ignored. If only one happens—either the batter-runner reaches first or all other runners advance at least one base, but not both—the obstruction is not ignored. In this question, only one of those conditions occurs, so obstruction is not ignored. The correct action is to call Obstruction and base awards reflect what would have occurred without the obstruction.