Posted on 05/26/2011 11:57:37 AM PDT by ZGuy
[Buster Posey, last year's Rookie of the Year is out for the season with a broken leg sustained on a collision at the plate last night. This is a major loss to the S.F. Giants. This blog post is in response to that hit.]
Barreling into a catcher adds nothing to the game of baseball. It never has. Every time I'd watch Pete Rose barrel into Ray Fosse, I'd think how messed up it was. It never really hit home until now, but it's the only element of contact in a non-contact sport. It's like the NFL using Scrabble to decide games that are tied after regulation -- it's the exact opposite of how the rest of the game is played.
Take-out slides at second can cause an injury, but there's something more organic about sliding a little late or wide. A player putting his head down and leveling a catcher is legal, and it's nonsense. I understand the logistical aspect -- you can't run through second or third base, so you have to slide,and first base is a force out, so there's no reason to knock the ball out of the first baseman's hands.
But there has to be a way to eliminate crazy-violent collisions at home plate. You can't decimate a catcher in college. They're able to enforce that somehow. There's no way to eliminate contact altogether, but there's a way to eliminate the strategy of plowing into a catcher so hard that he drops the ball. We're storming the administration building, folks. We're going to burn bras and draft cards and effigies, and we'll get this fixed.
After we stop openly weeping.
(Excerpt) Read more at mccoveychronicles.com ...
And in anticipation of your next question, yes, I know the rules of the game. I am not only a certified USSSA and ASA softball umpire but also certified for American Legion baseball......
There is no need for the first baseman to block first base since his primary concern is catching the throw then touching the base with his foot. The only time collisions occur at first base is when there is an errant throw which draws the first baseman off the bag and into the path of the runner in order to make the catch............
Where are you getting these weird ideas? Again, have you ever played the game?
What would happen if the first baseman blocked the bag? He would be called for interference.
Since you obviously know nothing of the game, that is called a force out......A play at first base is always a force out...and a tag is not necessary unless the first baseman is drawn off the bag in order to make the catch then he most likely will attempt to tag the runner before he reaches first base..........
You are avoiding the question. As an umpire, what would you call if the first baseman blocked first base the way the catcher blocks home plate?
Why would the first baseman block the bag if there wasn't a play being made there?
Time for YOU to answer MY question. Have you ever played the game of baseball or softball?
You and I both know you would call interference if the first baseman blocked the runner from touching the bag.
In my years of umpiring both softball and baseball, I have never witnessed a first baseman blocking first base if there were no play being made there.
As I stated previously, if a play is being made at first base then there is no need for the first baseman to block the base......
If a first baseman should attempt to block first base when there is no throw to that bag then he would be cited for interference.
So what is your point?
Read my previous post then explain what is your point?
My original point was that at any other base, the baseman is not allowed to block the base... the runner is entitled to run or slide to the base while the defense attepts to tag him first. I don’t understand why they started letting the catchers block home plate. The runner should be entitled to a clean path to home.
Do you know what rule applies to ownership of the basepaths and the bases?
My other point was that no rules change is required, just apply the rules concerning base paths to home.
Yes I do but I've also come to realize that you have no experience on how the game is played and that all you are doing is turning this conversation into a circle jerk with you in the middle.........
Nice try
All star little league (centerfield), member of Arlington HS baseball team (third base), member of Fargo company softball team, (shortstop), observer of every World Series since Detroit and St Louis 1967 (or was it 68?) including my Mets in 1969, Donn Clendenon 1b, Al Weis 2b, Bud Harrelson ss, Wayne Garrett 3b, Cleon Jones lf, Tommie Agee cf, Ron Swoboda rf, Tom Seaver p game one. Mets defeat Baltimore Orioles 4 games to 1.
The catcher is the only position player that has a right to block what he’s defending (in possession of the ball) - it would be stupid to try and block a base that rests above the ground. No one wants to be jammed with cleats while their leg is against a bag.
The catcher blocks; the runner tries to score. It’s up to the catcher whether he wants to get run over or not.
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