What happens when time is taken to make an award after obstruction?

When a player is obstructed while running the bases, the rules specify that the ball becomes immediately dead. This means that once the umpire recognizes obstruction, play is halted to allow for the appropriate decision and award to be made regarding the affected runner. This ensures that the obstructed player can receive the proper base award without additional plays or actions occurring that could complicate the situation.

Immediate dead ball status prevents further complications and helps maintain the integrity of the play by allowing the umpire to assess the situation clearly and ensure that the player is treated fairly according to the rules regarding obstruction. Other possible scenarios, such as allowing play to continue or calling a strike, do not apply in the case of obstruction, as the immediate action is necessary to address the interference caused by the obstruction.