| Definitely it could be said that there are eight ways for a BATTER to reach first base; the 7 ways that are listed in the quiz answers, and also fielder's obstruction. However, this eighth way of reaching first base is properly covered under the umbrella of "error". For one thing, obstructing the progress of a runner is as much a fielding error as making a bad throw or fumbling the ball; it's something other than what the fielder is supposed to do. For another thing, the baseball rules say: "When an umpire awards the batter ... one or more bases because of interference or obstruction, the official scorer shall charge the fielder who committed the interference or obstruction with one error ... ." "Catcher's interference" is its own category even though the catcher is charged with a fielding error, because catcher's interference (unlike fielder's obstruction, or more typical fielding errors that lead to a batter taking base) does not require that the ball have been put into play by the batter. |
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