Cubs Use Trendy Pickoff Play to Nail Elly De La Cruz
The Cubs used a trendy timing play to pick Elly de la Cruz off first base in a close game on May 4, 2026. It was a designed play where the first baseman initially plays off the base and the pitcher never looks to 1B which puts the runner at ease. The first baseman breaks to the base, catcher signals the pitcher to throw the pickoff and they nab the runner. But could this be obstruction on the fielder? Obstruction is a judgement call. HOW DO YOU SEE IT?
Obstruction? It looked to me there was a path to the base until the first baseman moved into that line to catch the ball, which he is entitled to do.