Home plate collisions

[doctemple]

I was reading this morning that there will be a vote sometime in January to determine if homeplate collisions in Major League baseball will be banned starting with the 2014 season. The concern is about injury (Posey's broken leg a couple of years back for example) and concussions. I guess that MLB is feeling the pressure (potentially legal) stemming from what has been going on in the NFL regarding concussions. Runners will not be allowed to run into catchers but catchers will also be told not to interfere with runners trying to score. The collisions in The Show always look the same to me but I was wondering if any of you thought that collisions would be taken out of The Show 14 or will it be too late. I guess if the rule passes, that it will at least be gone by The Show 15.

Just interested in your thoughts.

[MLB Bob]

Re: Home plate collisions

I dont want to over simplify or presume how easy it would be but, this seems like an easy fix to just eliminate that animation at the plate, problem solved..might even be a simple fix with a patch..but as I said I shouldnt assume anything is easy..and SCEA generally always waits till things are 100% confirmed before implementation. Just my take..they'll get it right soon enough

[doctemple]

Re: Home plate collisions

I dont want to over simplify or presume how easy it would be but, this seems like an easy fix to just eliminate that animation at the plate, problem solved..might even be a simple fix with a patch..but as I said I shouldnt assume anything is easy..and SCEA generally always waits till things are 100% confirmed before implementation. Just my take..they'll get it right soon enough

I agree. And it is definitely not a big thing to me.

[Knight165]

Re: Home plate collisions

There were so few....I don't even think it would need to be removed!

The only hitch will be if they restrict the catcher and his ability to block the plate(actual MLB) as just removing the baserunner from being allowed to freight train the catcher, gives the defense a tremendous advantage.(and this is coming from a guy who was a catcher!)

M.K.
Knight165

[juicer420]

Re: Home plate collisions

There were so few....I don't even think it would need to be removed!

The only hitch will be if they restrict the catcher and his ability to block the plate(actual MLB) as just removing the baserunner from being allowed to freight train the catcher, gives the defense a tremendous advantage.(and this is coming from a guy who was a catcher!)

M.K.
Knight165

My understanding of it is that they're just going to have the catchers play homeplate like the middle infielders cover 2nd base and 3rd baseman cover 3rd. Essentially, no blocking the plate.

The Giants have basically already made that transition with Posey. If you watch how he played plays at the plate last year, I think that's how MLB will instruct catchers to play it.

[doctemple]

Re: Home plate collisions

There were so few....I don't even think it would need to be removed!

The only hitch will be if they restrict the catcher and his ability to block the plate(actual MLB) as just removing the baserunner from being allowed to freight train the catcher, gives the defense a tremendous advantage.(and this is coming from a guy who was a catcher!)

M.K.
Knight165

That's true. I was a catcher too at one point. I have even fewer homeplate collisions because I franchise mode with the Cubs and we are not very often traveling from third base to home. I hope they just leave it in there and maybe do a cut scene where the umpire awards the runner the run as the bloody corpses are being carried from the field!

[tylerh]

Re: Home plate collisions

Most of the time collisions are uncalled obstructions or interferences...If umpires actually started making the appropriate calls in the instances where it applies then a lot of injuries would be avoided.


A lot of it is also poor fundamentals on the part of the catcher. I k now when I was a catcher I was always taught to allow a lane to home when I'm receiving a throw and to do what I need to when I have the ball and am paying attention to the runner. If more guys did that and didn't just camp out in front of the plate waiting for the throw then a lot of these collisions would be avoided from the get-go. I think it's also on the runner to avoid unnecessary contact when a lane is provided.


So I feel that it has come to this because of fault on the part of the players. If umpires made the right calls, catchers weren't idiots, and runners took lanes given to them then intervention by the MLB would be unnecessary.

[dingleberryfinn]

Re: Home plate collisions

If MLB really wanted to eliminate collisions, they would change the rule to the runner has to slide or he's out.

[Curahee]

Re: Home plate collisions

If MLB really wanted to eliminate collisions, they would change the rule to the runner has to slide or he's out.

The rule was officially changed today and it will primarily be on the Catcher or be called for obstruction.

No collisions at the plate will be allowed in 2014 going forward.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/mlb-rules-committee-votes-to-end-home-plate-collisions?ymd=20131211&content_id=64598138&vkey=news_mlb

The Catcher is either going to have to set up inside the lines or there will have to be another cutoff man to redirect the ball.
I dont necessarily like the new rule, but I get it. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

[bp4baseball]

Re: Home plate collisions

There were so few....I don't even think it would need to be removed!

The only hitch will be if they restrict the catcher and his ability to block the plate(actual MLB) as just removing the baserunner from being allowed to freight train the catcher, gives the defense a tremendous advantage.(and this is coming from a guy who was a catcher!)

M.K.
Knight165

Yeah I'm not a fan do this. I get the safety and agree nobody should be getting hurt, but it seems like the catchers can fix the problem themselves. If they don't block the plate, they don't get run over. The only thing I could see being frowned upon is where runners target the catcher when they could of slid and been safe.
I feel like this takes out a part of the game unnecessarily... Just my opinion though

[Curahee]

Re: Home plate collisions

it seems like the catchers can fix the problem themselves. If they don't block the plate, they don't get run over.
I feel like this takes out a part of the game unnecessarily... Just my opinion though

Im confused.

You say catchers can avoid this by not blocking the plate, but then you say without it, it takes out part of the game.

The new rule states Catchers cannot block the plate and must swipe tag the runner just as with any other base.
So is that taking away from the game or is it fixing a problem?

[Bobhead]

Re: Home plate collisions

I don't get how it will be enforced. How do you draw the line between a catcher playing his position and "blocking the plate"?

I mean the catcher still has to receive the throw and apply a tag, which means he's going to need to be in front of the runner somewhere. Granted I played catcher only like a handful of times in my life, so I know nothing of that position. Actually I don't think I ever actually had a play at the plate in any game I played as a catcher ever.
Probably a good thing because I'm pretty sure I'd burst into pieces on my first collision. I have a pretty small frame.

But anyway.

I mean home plate doesn't even stick out of the ground like the other bases do. It's going to be hard for the catcher to not "block" it, even accidentally.

[Curahee]

Re: Home plate collisions

I don't get how it will be enforced. How do you draw the line between a catcher playing his position and "blocking the plate"?

The Catcher is either going to have to set up inside the lines or there will have to be another cutoff man to redirect the ball.

[Mabster]

Re: Home plate collisions

My understanding of it is that they're just going to have the catchers play homeplate like the middle infielders cover 2nd base and 3rd baseman cover 3rd. Essentially, no blocking the plate.

I'm no umpire but I believe fielders are not prohibited from blocking bags. If they have the ball or the ball is on its way to them it's within the rules to allow them to block the bag. It's not obstruction if you have the ball, making a play on the ball, or the ball is being thrown to them. The reason you don't see it happen is being cause of lack of shin guards.

As for the rule, there's still a lot of grey area that needs to be clarified. I don't agree with it either. I understand the arguments, just don't agree with changing the rules.

[bp4baseball]

Re: Home plate collisions

Im confused.

You say catchers can avoid this by not blocking the plate, but then you say without it, it takes out part of the game.

The new rule states Catchers cannot block the plate and must swipe tag the runner just as with any other base.
So is that taking away from the game or is it fixing a problem?

Currenly it is the catchers decision whether to block the plate (giving him an advantage) but risk getting run over, or give the runner access to the plate. The new rule would take away that option.

It's sort of the same idea as double plays. There is no rule saying the shortstop can't stay on 2nd, plant his feet, and make a nice hard throw to first. But he knows the runner is coming in with spikes and it's in his interest to move.