We play a friendly game every week, adhering to no particular set of rules, but are in a rule quandary: runner Bob was standing on second, when a pop-up dropped and hit him on the head. Say what you like about Bob's co-ordination, but shortstop Dean was unable to get to the ball because Bob was in the way. The ball dropped to the infield.
Runner Bob did NOT deliberately block fielder Dean, and umpire Jim did not invoke the infield fly rule.
Was Bob out because he was struck by a batted ball? Was he safe because he was on base? Was he out because he had an obligation to step off the base to let Dean catch the fly (Bob would have been out if Dean had his foot on the bag and the ball in his glove before Bob returned to the base)?
Is the batter out and does Bob advance to third?
Common sense suggests that Bob should do what he can to get out of the way of the ball, but that he is not required to step off the base, and as Bob is at times not the most graceful of fellows, getting conked on the noggin by the fly ball was a surprise to him.
We've had a professional baseball ump jump in to say Bob is out, as he should have let Dean field the ball. But this is softball, and Bob did not deliberately get in Dean's way.
Your thoughts please, ladies and Gentlemen?
Runner Bob did NOT deliberately block fielder Dean, and umpire Jim did not invoke the infield fly rule.
Was Bob out because he was struck by a batted ball? Was he safe because he was on base? Was he out because he had an obligation to step off the base to let Dean catch the fly (Bob would have been out if Dean had his foot on the bag and the ball in his glove before Bob returned to the base)?
Is the batter out and does Bob advance to third?
Common sense suggests that Bob should do what he can to get out of the way of the ball, but that he is not required to step off the base, and as Bob is at times not the most graceful of fellows, getting conked on the noggin by the fly ball was a surprise to him.
We've had a professional baseball ump jump in to say Bob is out, as he should have let Dean field the ball. But this is softball, and Bob did not deliberately get in Dean's way.
Your thoughts please, ladies and Gentlemen?