Home plate collisions

[Curahee]

Re: Home plate collisions

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.

Maybe this will clear it up a bit.....


Moving forward, the rule will be that runners have to slide if there's a play at the plate. Also of note here is that catcher's blocking the plate without the ball is technically supposed to be an obstruction call -- but due to the baseball world having accepted the collision at home plate for so long, it's one of those rules that isn't really enforced.

As stated in Rule 7.06(b):

The catcher, without the ball in his possession, has no right to block the pathway of the runner attempting to score. The base line belongs to the runner and the catcher should be there only when he is fielding a ball or when he already has the ball in his hand.
With players now facing fines and possible suspensions for violating the new rule, expect the flip-side to be obstruction by the catcher being enforced.

[Mabster]

The way that reads, it's solely the responsibility of the catchers? And they can be fined and suspended for not following it and it's a judgement call?

Watching MLB Network top defensive plays of 2013, #74 is the perfect example of the grey area I'm talking about. Drive to the right field of corner, runner trying to score from third, the cut off throw takes the catcher up the line. The runner blows him over. He's out.

The catcher was making a play on the ball so obviously he has a right to be there. The runner could have clearly went for a hook slide or anything else that didn't lead to the collision.

Edit: So the question is then who's at fault. And if the catchers can be fined, the runners better be able to be as well. The new rule better clearly the state the runner has to slide.

[Curahee]

Re: Home plate collisions

The new rule better clearly the state the runner has to slide.

Yes. It says that in the first sentence of the statement I posted.


Moving forward, the rule will be that runners have to slide if there's a play at the plate.

[nemesis04]

Re: Home plate collisions

As far as the Show pertains to this I really think it is a non issue. In game the catcher sets up in front of the plate and basically tags behind himself. Most of the game is setup with collision detection avoidance so they really only need to take out the command and animation for railroading the catcher.

[Mabster]

Re: Home plate collisions

Yes. It says that in the first sentence of the statement I posted.


Moving forward, the rule will be that runners have to slide if there's a play at the plate.

You don't have to keep bolding stuff. I know what you wrote but just somebody saying "moving forward" is pretty far from an official rule. I don't know who made the statement you posted, you?

As far as the Show pertains to this...

Yea, I've drifted off topic now. It should be a very simple change for The Show.

[Curahee]

Re: Home plate collisions

Sorry. The bold was an accident typing from my phone. It happens when I copy and paste sometimes.
That quote came from MLBN & MLB.com

[Curahee]

Re: Home plate collisions

That quote came from MLBN & MLB.com

Of course now I cant find it on MLB.com since theyve rotated their news, but I promise this was on their website and the same statement was posted on MLBN's MLB Tonight with Matt V and Dan Plesac right at the end of the Winter Meetings special they were showing.

It was also said that "The exact language will have to be worked out."

So to me that leaves some wiggle room.

[dalger21]

Re: Home plate collisions

I can't remember the last time I actually saw it in The Show so I don't think it will be a big deal if they didn't take it out.

[ManiacMatt1782]

Re: Home plate collisions

Count me in the unneccessary change group. 1 person posted about a guy getting blasted while stying to field an errant throw. I say that is the rare exception to the rule. In 99 % of plays where the catcher gets blasted which is already rare. Its because the catcher was xommiting obstruction waiting for the ball. Call obstruction as it is supposed to be called and catchers won't take hits they were not braced for. If the ball beats the runner there the catcher who is expecting a hit can brace for it. Most consussions come from a guy taking a hit he did not see. Even in football with helmets. Guys who never saw a hit coming are the guys that wind up with their bell rung. Can the odd freak play happen? Yes. But guy's blow out hamstrings and acls and achillied tendons hustling out of the box. Are we gonna take running out of the game too? Call the rule as it was intended and force catchers to protect themselves instead if obstructing the plate without the ball and concussions will drop dramatically.