Sorry if these are elementary... I am just trying to learn...
Rules governing play were to be ASA...
Situation #1. One out and a baserunner on 3rd. Deep fly to centerfield. Runner tags and heads toward home. CF throws into 2nd base who then throws home. Runner beat the throw, but just before the runner had began to slide the home ump signaled obstruction on the catcher. They noted catcher took position 2-3 feet up the line immediately when CF still had the ball and because runner hesitated slightly and then slid around catcher obstruction occurred. In the end, like noted, it had no impact, but I'm curious by how much and when can the catcher block the plate?
Situation #2. No outs and a baserunner on 1st. At the pitch the base runner sprints toward 2nd. Batter swings so hard at pitch they stumble foward after swing and end up in opposite batters box. No contact with ball was made. Catcher didn't make an attempt to throw out runner. Had they attempted to throw could the batter's action been considered an obstruction to the catcher since they crossed in front of them?
Thank you.