Rules on receiving a ball at the base

[Greenmonsters]

If a defender was stationed just to the front and inside (on home plate side of and just toward 2nd base side of 3rd) they are giving the entire base to the runner and they have any path they want to the bag. Even if a runner for some reason chose a path to the home plate side of the base, it is available to them. I dont see how any umpire could judge this positioning to be obstruction.

I think MTR's subsequent post addresses this situation appropriately.

 

[02Crush]

And you do understand that there is no rule requiring the runner to slide? And Im not talking 5' in front of the bag. A fielder can easily reach the back side of a 15" base from a foot in front of it.

Maybe not a 10 yo fielder....

 

[02Crush]

You guys are awesome! I will go with MTR here....The runner ran straight to third and slid. Our third baseman instilled no fear, no change of path or alteration of movement. It all happend so quickly. Basically, Ball thrown, ball caught, tag applied to sliding runner. He did not call obstruction. He called blocking the base. Which according to the words of everyone here...is not an rule so therefore cannot be an illegal offense. Thanks for the clarity. BTW, Thanks for the persepctive. It is not a base applicable rule. It is a basepath applicable rule.