Home Plate Collisions to be banned

[KingKat]

So every collision is intentional now? Guarantee there will be some questionable suspensions off this new rule, and many of the supporters of it will be the first to bitch. Just look at the NFL today. You can't even touch a big name QB, or you're flagged with a "roughing the passer", and/or a fine. You know what I'm saying is right. This will be a disaster disguised as "caring for players"

 

This isn't about creating complicated rules and judgement calls. It's about treating home plate the way it always should have been treated, like every other base. It shouldn't be any harder to police than the other three bases.

[Anemic0ffense]

This isn't about creating complicated rules and judgement calls.

 

You're right. Now they'll just say anything is an intentional collision, without observing the tape. Great rule...

[Anemic0ffense]

Who was it? Brian Roberts who lost his season that one year at first base? We see countless injuries at second with players getting spiked. If anything, we're giving home plate "special treatment".

[GeorgiaPeach]

the actual issue is society trying to nanny people even when they are adults. at some point the protective state has to leave people alone and let them live. there are already rules that actually stop most collisions. taking all "dangerous" play out of of baseball will kill the sport.

 

Really? Maybe in the NHL & NFL, but not baseball.

 

I'm tired of people trying to bubble wrap the world to protect us from ourselves. so this picture is perfect.

 

politically correct is sucking the living out of life.

 

A player running home should not be looking to collide with the catcher opposed to touching the plate as an afterthought. If the catcher is gonna block home without the ball, he's obstructing the runner. If he has the ball or gets it and makes a play for the plate, the runner should still be making an attempt at the plate and not to bowl over the catcher.

[kcjaysfan]

I'm not sure if anyone has posted this already: Ryan Freel had CTE, parents say

[GeorgiaPeach]

Backhanded shot at Posey?

 

I don't see how it was backhanded. Posey was receiving the ball on the 1B side of the plate and being out of position and attempting to come across and tag Cousins out, got smoked. If Zaun was receiving the same throw there's no way he'd be in the position of "squaring up the shins", he speaks of.

[Anemic0ffense]

A player running home should not be looking to collide with the catcher opposed to touching the plate as an afterthought. If the catcher is gonna block home without the ball, he's obstructing the runner. If he has the ball or gets it and makes a play for the plate, the runner should still be making an attempt at the plate and not to bowl over the catcher.

 

And in cases when the ball is thrown on a line, and both the ball and runner arrive at relatively the same time, and the runner is diving head first, and collides with the catcher unintentionally... How do you call that?

[GeorgiaPeach]

And in cases when the ball is thrown on a line, and both the ball and runner arrive at relatively the same time, and the runner is diving head first, and collides with the catcher unintentionally... How do you call that?

 

With expanded replay to determine intention if its needed. If the runner makes an intentional move towards the catcher and not the plate, he should be called out.

[Anemic0ffense]

With expanded replay to determine intention if its needed. If the runner makes an intentional move towards the catcher and not the plate, he should be called out.

 

So why not for first and second base then too? See that's my point... How many guys have you seen get spiked at second, or get their legs clipped out from under them... I'd argue more at 2nd than home. It's just people see the season ender at home every few years, and all of a sudden, let's ban it. I don't like it.

[GeorgiaPeach]

So why not for first and second base then too? See that's my point... How many guys have you seen get spiked at second, or get their legs clipped out from under them... I'd argue more at 2nd than home. It's just people see the season ender at home every few years, and all of a sudden, let's ban it. I don't like it.

 

Players are sliding at 2B & 3B. And besides AROD slapping at the ball on his way to 1B, or Albert Belle smoking Fernando Vina with his forearms, I never see players charging or launching themselves like linebackers at 1B or 2B men.

 

There not talking about removing hard slides at the plate out, just collisions like these guys think they're in the NFL.

Edited December 16, 2013 by GeorgiaPeach

[Anemic0ffense]

To expand a bit on that, who here doesn't think that baserunners intentionally try to knock down the 2B or SS at second base, most times going out of the baseline? How often is that described as "gritty"? Now we're giving special treatment to guys with padding on... Makes no sense.

[Abomination]

To expand a bit on that, who here doesn't think that baserunners intentionally try to knock down the 2B or SS at second base, most times going out of the baseline? How often is that described as "gritty"? Now we're giving special treatment to guys with padding on... Makes no sense.

 

They absolutely do. I love the way Rasmus in particular plays and does it, however at the same time I agree with you that it shouldn't be part of the game.

[Anemic0ffense]

Players are sliding at those bases. And besides AROD slapping at the ball on his way to 1B, or Albert Belle smoking Fernando Vina with his forearms I never see players charging or launching themselves like linebackers at 1B or 2B men.

 

There not talking about removing hard slides at the plate out, just collisions like these guys think they're in the NFL.

 

You never see players intentionally go out of the baseline to obstruct the throw at first? Come on man...

[GeorgiaPeach]

To expand a bit on that, who here doesn't think that baserunners intentionally try to knock down the 2B or SS at second base, most times going out of the baseline? How often is that described as "gritty"? Now we're giving special treatment to guys with padding on... Makes no sense.

 

The rule is that if they're able to touch the base when sliding, they're good. And intentionally trying to disrupt, tangle the 2B or SS up to prevent them from making a further play. I can't say I've ever seen a player charge the fielder at 2B sparking a collision to intentionally knock the ball out of the fielder's glove.

 

And some of the players I see slide within easy touching of 2B but still trying to disrupt the play, are far from gritty. Rasmus is a common one on the Jays and I consider him a soft'ish player.

[GeorgiaPeach]

You never see players intentionally go out of the baseline to obstruct the throw at first? Come on man...

 

If you're talking about interfering with a thrown baseball, that's another discussion. I'm talking about blatant collisions where the two players are standing. I'm not even talking about sliding like you're talking about.

 

The whole gist of this is to prevent head injuries.....not interference of players getting spiked during a slide like you're harping on.

[GeorgiaPeach]

They absolutely do. I love the way Rasmus in particular plays and does it, however at the same time I agree with you that it shouldn't be part of the game.

 

So is MLB eliminating hard slides at the plate as well? Because I've never seen Rasmus launch himself like Cousins, Pete Rose or Lawrie at a 2B or SS.

[o2cui2i]

So is MLB eliminating hard slides at the plate as well? Because I've never seen Rasmus launch himself like Cousins, Pete Rose or Lawrie at a 2B or SS.

 

Rasmus is about as old school as there is in the league when it comes to going into second to break up the DP. he slides late and hard, but clean and that's they way the game is supposed to be played. the only collision I have a problem with at home plate is when the runner is out by ten feet and his only chance is to cream the catcher. that needs to be taken away, but if the ball and runner get there at the same time... not so much.

 

reducing "unnecessary" contact is fine. as I've suggested before, calculate a safe distance (for example 10ft) draw a line at 10 feet and say that if the catcher has full control of the ball before the runner crosses the "safety" line, the runner is not allowed to run the catcher over. the runner can still try to slide and get to the plate but not bulldoze the catcher.

 

if the catcher is blocking without the ball, simply call the play dead and call obstruction like the rule in place already says they should.

 

if the runner goes out of his way to tackle the catcher he is out.

 

if the catcher doesn't leave room for the runner to get to the plate it's on his ass for being stupid. learn a swipe tag son!

[Orgfiller]

First thought: That's lame.

 

Second thought: Do I really care to see any more Buster Posey and Yasmani Grandal injuries? Not really.

 

My reaction exactly. This makes sense from different views, first of all, it's a business, you lose your best player for a year (or more) because of a collision, bad for business, really simple. From an entertainment point of view, the same, while the collision at the plate may be an exciting play, is it worth one collision every so often with high risk for injury for both players involved? Or would you rather have stars like Posey playing all year long if they can avoid silly injuries like getting run over at home?

 

The catching position is hard enough on the body, if you add in the risk of players getting run over, the catching position would become even thinner. It may seem a bit black and white, but would you rather Buster Posey playing as many games as possible in a very valuable position, or would you rather him getting run over and limiting his future not only as a catcher, but also as a player?

[wilko]

I'm glad they are taking it out. It's a non contact sport, why would they have one play where you can plow someone over for covering a base? I'm sure Buck will agree...

[o2cui2i]

The so-called "neighborhood play" at second base on double plays cannot be challenged. Many had safety concerns for middle infielders being wiped out by hard-charging runners if the phantom force was subject to review.

 

that is ********! why should they insist on the defensive player touching the base on all other bases and home plate, but at second as long as the D pretends to get the bag it's an out? unless there is a rule that specifically states that you only have to come close to touching second turning the double play.... this makes no f***ing sense.

[G-Snarls]

[Deadpool]

I watched this replay a few times today, and I think it was the right call, it didn't look like the plate was blocked until he had control of the ball, there was definitely a path to the plate...

 

Unless I'm totally misinterpreting the rule...

[ElNik2013]

There was nothing wrong with that play yesterday, but apparently, Girardi was whining about it. This is gonna cause more issues than the replays. I don't know why they need to review this thing. The rule seems imperfect to say the least.

[Anemic0ffense]

As I had anticipated, this rule sucks, and will cause problems all year.

[John_Havok]

I watched this replay a few times today, and I think it was the right call, it didn't look like the plate was blocked until he had control of the ball, there was definitely a path to the plate...

 

Unless I'm totally misinterpreting the rule...

 

I don't think he blocked the plate at all. he was standing with his feet on either side of the plate and his body was directly above it. He kinda fell over on Cervelli as he slid in, but he had a clear path the whole way.