What is the ruling when a delayed dead ball is called because of a play obstructed by F2?

In the situation where a delayed dead ball is called due to obstruction by the catcher (F2), the ruling is that all runners are awarded their bases. This decision serves to protect the runners, ensuring that they are not penalized for the obstruction encountered during the play.

When obstruction is called, it signifies that the runner's ability to advance was hindered, which allows for the correction of the situation through awarding bases. The focus is on the protection and advancement of the runners, ensuring they receive a fair opportunity to proceed without being adversely affected by the obstructing player.

In contrast, other choices do not accurately reflect the established rules regarding obstruction. Simply allowing play to continue or returning runners to previously occupied bases does not align with the intent of the obstruction ruling. Treating the ball as live immediately or imposing no penalties fails to recognize the situation's impact on the runners’ rights and their ability to safely advance. Thus, the proper course of action is to award runners the bases they would have reached had the obstruction not occurred.