The Glade 4.0

Since Buster Posey was hurt by an otherwise legal collision at home plate, I believe there is talk of rethinking the rule that allows a baserunner to crash the catcher who is blocking the plate

Personally, I would like to see the rule where the catcher can block the plate removed or rethought and the baserunner should not be allowed to interact with the catcher anymore than as if he was trying a takeout slide on a middle infielder trying to turn a double play.

Thoughts?

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This must be Thursday. I could never get the hang of Thursdays.

If a defensive fielder is allowed to stand in his way along any basepath, he should be fair game to be crashed. It is only fair. I do not support the concept that just because you're holding the ball and have the runner trapped that you should be given some other advantage.

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Well Ali Baba had them forty thieves, Scheherezade had a thousand tales
But master you in luck 'cause up your sleeves you got a brand of magic never fails...
...Mister Aladdin, sir, What will your pleasure be?
Let me take your order, Jot it down -You ain't never had a friend like me
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**** that. Catchers know the risks.

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Indeed. If they don't want to be crashed, don't stand on the **** baseline between the runner and his destination.

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Well Ali Baba had them forty thieves, Scheherezade had a thousand tales
But master you in luck 'cause up your sleeves you got a brand of magic never fails...
...Mister Aladdin, sir, What will your pleasure be?
Let me take your order, Jot it down -You ain't never had a friend like me
█ ♣ █

Don't change the rules. If a GM/Manager/Catcher all agree that not blocking the plate is acceptable, let them do that, but it's too much a part of the game to screw with the rules and have umpires trying to make judgement calls trying to protect players.

Let the teams make the decision if their investment is worth changing approach...

I say no, leave it.

But at the same time, I think they should start enforcing the rule that says catchers can't block the plate unless they have the ball. So many catchers set up on the baseline without the ball, which I'm pretty sure is technically still illegal. I know that was the rule up until a few years ago, but I'd have to look it up.

Not sure if that would make it better or worse in terms of injuries. But it might make it better - the catcher wouldn't be as "planted" in front of the plate, so maybe his knees would give way, rather than digging in?

I've also heard (courtesy Vin Scully), that some scouts thought that Posey made an elementary mistake by being down on his knee(s), rather than squatting. So, this may be all a matter of technique. Don't block the plate unless you have the ball, and when you do have the ball, don't get down on your knees. In fact, not blocking the plate until you have the ball may make a catcher's technique better, or at least less injury-prone, as he'd have to be up on his feet to be able to move in front of the plate when he gets the ball.

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This cold and dark tormented hell
Is all I`ll ever know
So when you get to heaven
May the devil be the judge

It's bad technique for a catcher to get in the baseline before they have the ball. It's taught even at the high school level to let the runner see the plate, so they will commit to a normal slide (rather than a shoulder slam), and then block the runners access at the last second.

And yes, going down to your shins like he did is also considered bad form, as you risk exactly what happened. Rolling the lower leg/ankle.

Speaking of which ... here's a video from MLB of Matt Kemp throwing a strike to Rod Barajas to nail Carlos Gonzalez in the first inning of yesterday's Rockies-Dodgers game. Note that Barajas is out of the baseline, not blocking the plate. And it was a great throw by Kemp.

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This cold and dark tormented hell
Is all I`ll ever know
So when you get to heaven
May the devil be the judge

The "play at the plate" is one of the most exciting moments in baseball. The individual run is such an important factor that generations of catchers have worked long and hard to turn blocking the plate, or strategic decision not to, into an art form.

It is a Skill that Buster Posey has yet to learn, and it will unfortunatly cost him a season.

The runner has the right to advance, and therefore has the right to the plate and baseline. The catcher has no such right at any time, even when holding the ball on a non-force out.

The catcher may, however, move to obstruct the runner at his owm peril if he is holding onto the ball. He has 100% discretion over how much risk he will or will not assume at the point of impact.

Leave it alone. It isn't broken.

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Ezekiel 23:19-20 

I heard one of the talking baseball heads discussing a heated conversation he overheard between a manager and GM.

The Manager was miffed because a catcher wouldn't block the plate. The GM told him to chill out, that he was willing to sacrifice a couple of runs or even a game or two through the course of the season, if it meant keeping the starting catcher healthy.

Johnny Bench, who played 17 years as Catcher, and is concidered one of the best of all time, also stated that he felt that Posey put himself in a bad position.

Bench is a Catching coach for the reds during spring training, and stated the he teaches catches to not get in the baseline until they have the ball, and that letting the runner see the plate will usually result in them sliding, preventing a collision.

ESPN Interview with Johnny Bench

Apparently some Giants fans have been sending death threats to Scott Cousins and his family, which is just beyond asinine.

I believe the proper term is: "If you can't stand the heat, don't stand on the tracks when the train is coming."

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I prefer to think of them as "Fighting evil in another dimension"