1) He is in the basepath to 2nd. He is also in the basepath to home. Again extend it from the grass. Your picture even shows his left leg is in the basepath to home.elliseamos wrote:1) he's not in the path toward home, he's in the path toward 2nd, which means middlebrooks is allowed to obstruct craig in that direction b/c of the throw on the play toward that base.Fuck You Jobu wrote:Extend the basepath out from the infield grass. He's in the basepath. Only part of your body needs to be in the basepath.elliseamos wrote:i don't think they've interpreted the rule correctly.
which would figure, since joyce wasn't even paying attention.
Btw, that's a cute screengrab of Joyce. Reminds me of taking a quote out of context. Watch the video... Joyce's head goes back and forth between the obstruction and teh outfield. He sees it.
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-bas ... ddlebrooks
or look at this screenshot of him watching the obstruction.
Why haven't you talked about Middlebrooks trying to trip him? His feet were on the ground and then come up when the runner tries to go over him....
2) joyce doesn't need to look to the outfield that's why there's an ump out there, not to mention the other umps on the field, joyce's at third to be the authority for that base... he should stick with watching what's going on there.
3) middlebrooks was moving his legs to help himself get up (a push-up is easier from your knees, no?) and then stops when he realizes/feels craig moving over him. i didn't comment b/c i didn't think it was an issue, which, if you do believe it's obstruction, shouldn't matter anyway b/c intent doesn't matter. right? whether you believe the play is obstruction or not, it doesn't matter what middlebrooks is doing. the fact that he's in the way is b/c of the play in the basepath for which he was making a play. if it was a pickle between home and third, or middlebrooks was trying to receive saltalamacchia's throw in the path toward home then it would make sense.
2) Irrelevent. Your point of the photo was that he wasn't paying attention to the play @ 3rd. He was. The video shows it and the screen grab I posted shows he's watching it.
3)No he's not trying to get up. If you're trying to get to your feet, you don't put them higher in the air. He demonstrates this when he gets up later by getting on his knees and putting his FEET ON THE GROUND - not further up in the air and then pushing himself back to his feet. I have no idea how you are trying to get up on your feet by putting your feet in the air
Seriously try it. get down on your stomach and try to get up by putting your feet higher in the air. The quickest way is to pull your knees forward (yes a push up with your knees is easier) and your feet DOWN ON THE GROUND (not the opposite direction they need to go to get on your feet), pushing you up to standing position. You're right, though, it doesn't matter for obstruction. But by him putting his legs up, instead of jsut laying there, you would at least have the argument of victim of circumstance. By putting his legs up, he's intentionally trying to slow down the runner, losing even that argument.
I havent been following the series that closely.
