When a Cardinal runner was called safe because of the contact with Brandon Inge during the first (1st) game of the World Series, on what basis exactly was a call made against Brandon Inge in light of the fact that the runner seemed to be way out of the basepath.

That's what I'd like to know! Oh well,too late now.

Hey, I'm glad you replied so I at least don't feel totally dumb for bringing up the topic.

Inge did not have possession of the ball, nor was he making a play on the runner; therefore, because he hindered/impeded the runner's advance, he is guilty of "obstruction." It is what we in the umpire world call a "delayed dead ball " situation. The play continues and "time" is called at the end of the play if the runner is to be awarded a base, which he was in this case. His award base was home, and once the play was made on him there, the ball became dead and he was ruled safe, having been awarded home on the obstruction.

The runner was not out of the "basepath" because no such thing existed as you suggested.

Interesting.

It seemed to me that the Cardinal runner almost deliberately ran into Brandon. It is obvious that Brandon did not intentionally hinder or impede the Cardinal runner. However, I understand that if he did hinder or impede the runner, his intentions aren't relevant. I and many other Tiger fans wondered just how far away did Brandon Inge have to get away from the foul line to not be hindering or impeding the Cardinal runner. The Cardinal runner was far, far away from the foul line when he initiated contact with Brandon. I know that there is no certain number of feet that Brandon was required to be away from the foul line.

Contact need not occur for obstruction to occur. All it takes is for a fielder to hinder or impede a runner's advance and obstruction will be called, unless for some odd reason a runner goes out of hiw way to draw obstruction, in which case nothing would be called. Quite simply, Inge didn't belong anywhere near the runner.

Remember, too, that when a runner is rounding third base like Rolen did, he's swung out well away from the line connecting third and home, the line that you are mistakenly referring to as "basepath." Ignore such lines of demarcation. They're irrelevant and do not apply here.