- Jun 22, 2008
- 3,438
- 48
The defense can be anywhere they want, there is no rule about where they can place themselves while waiting to make a play. What they cant do is hinder the offense without possession of the ball, or while fielding a batted ball. What you are describing for the recommended position for the catcher may be perfectly fine, it may not be. Using your own description, if the catchers position "forces" the runner to go to the outside of the plate before the catcher has possession of the ball, you have just described obstruction.
I think that is part of the problem. IMO, umpires are inappropriately concentrating on the catchers and their feet and not looking for the required impediment to the runner. The point here is that the umpire should be watching every aspect of the play as a whole, not just one or two specific parts of the play which is unfolding in front of them