Posted by: () on Fri Apr 12 00:39:41 2002

I know this is a hitter's site, but I have an important fielding question that nobody can seem to answer. Is the first baseman allowed to block the bag on pickoff throws? For example, if he straddles the bag, facing the pitcher, and puts down his right knee to block the base. Is that obstruction/interference?
> Please tell me what you know of this rule. I've found little on the net so far. Thanks.

Try an umpire's forum for a definitive answer. My best offering is to tell you that you can't block the runner unless you have the ball. In actual practice (and maybe in the casebook) you can get away with blocking the base if you either have the ball or it is just a few feet away from arriving at your glove. On the other hand, those spikes sure do hurt.

Mark H.