AboutTom O`Leary Expertise I am am best suited to answer questions regarding minor league baseball prospects.
Experience Originally, i started doing this because i became engrossed researching prospects for a fantasy league. Back then all i really wanted to do was answer questions about baseball prospects.
Funny how time flies but twelve years later i have been asked questions regarding the negro leagues, what minor leaguers get paid, why players don't rub their injury when they get hurt, and how players can tryout for the minor leagues to name only a few. i was recently in correspondence with a father of a marine who lost several fingers while in Iraq; he was later drafted by the padres and is playing in their minor league system. additionally, i get a lot of questions from guys asking me if i think they can be successful at these tryouts or if they should tryout at all.
I do my best to answer every one's question without overstepping my bounds of knowledge. *sometimes i have to tell people that i just can't answer their question.* And sometimes i have to tell people that they just aren't good enough to be a professional ball player.*
most recently i have received two negative feedbacks from people who didn't like my response. one 30 year old guy who hadn't played since he was a teenager asked me if he really had a shot at making the tryouts. realistically, i said no. i guess he didn't appreciate my bluntness but what would you have wanted me to say?
i am not really an 'expert' in anything. i just answer people's inquires, give some conservative advise or tell them 'i don't know.' after twelve years i have realized that i do fulfill most most questioners satisfactorily which keeps me doing this.
Question Minor league Situation: Batter hits slow grounder between first base line and pitcher. Pitcher runs over and picks up ground ball and continues running full spead into the runner when he is about 1/2 way to first base----knocking him down and unable to coninue toward base. What is the ruling if 1) the pitcher does not drop the ball in the process? or 2) if he does drop the ball? Is it obstruction or interference and is runner out or awarded first?
Answer Ron,
I'm not a rules expert but i noticed that you didn't mention if the pitcher tagged the better or not. neither did you mention in your scenario if the pitcher ran into the runner on purpose which is where i thought you where going with your story.
first of all, the pitcher still has to tag the runner. so in your scenario, the runner is safe.
subsequently, assuming that the pitcher didn't intentionally run into he guy, when he has the ball he has the right to block the base path (like a play at the plate, the catcher can block home plate).
