Major League Baseball intends to ban collisions at plate by 2015

Fox News ^ | December 12, 2013 | Associated Press

[onedoug]

Good for kids playing the game too.

[PeteB570]

How about the catcher can’t block the running line of the runner coming over the plate?

You’re talking split seconds here and if standing on the plate makes the runner slow a bit you can get him out.

Unfair advantage to the catcher.

[cripplecreek]

I believe they’re doing that as well but I’m not quite sure how they’ll enforce either.

[Jonty30]

If close, they will probably base it on the replay.

[Bayard]

Wussification of male sports drones on...

[ThePatriotsFlag]

50,000 auto deaths per year from "collisions" ...nobody pays attention. A couple of catchers get knocked on their butt and the media makes it a national outrage? Ever run into a catcher, fully "armed", at home plate? I have, only did it once, it is like running into a fireplug. Being called "out" is a better choice. But of course I wasn't getting paid a couple of million to do it.

What's next? Speeding tickets in the track at NASCAR I bet.

[mabarker1]

They will turn it into "Flag Baseball"

You have to have the ball and pull a flag off the runner...

And ask "Pretty please may I de-flag you /s

[Vaquero]

Took the words out of my mouth

I had a spots magazine years ago with this quote blown up in the middle of an article

“You gotta stand there any take your lumps”
Yogi Berra

[Alberta's Child]

I don't know why that would be the case in this instance.

I've never understood how it ever became a standard procedure for catchers to block home plate. Baseball rules specifically prohibit impeding the runner, and forbid the runner from leaving the base path to interfere with a fielder.

Nobody would ever think it's normal for someone to block first base, for example.

[mabarker1]

What's next? Speeding tickets in the track at NASCAR I bet.

They already do that- Pit road speed limit

[Buckeye Battle Cry]

Maybe they can also assign a Team Mom to coordinate treats for after each game and, oh, make sure everybody gets “participation trophies” at the end of the season. We wouldn’t want to hurt any of the little darlings feelings now would we? Oh, and institute an “everybody must play” rule too.

[Flag_This]

"I've never understood how it ever became a standard procedure for catchers to block home plate."

You can't... unless you have the ball. In which case, the catcher is attempting to tag the runner and the runner is attempting to cause the catcher to drop the ball by colliding with him.

[IndyTiger]

Fosse and Rose. 1970 All-Star game. Remember it well.

[.45 Long Colt]

I don’t know how they do this without fundamentally changing the “play at the plate.” Regardless, it’s interesting to me that some of the managers who favor the rule change were great catchers themselves. In the case of Mike Matheny I believe I remember him dealing with concussions during his career. Perhaps baseball is taking a lesson from football.

[cripplecreek]

Alex Avila takes a beating for the Tigers. He went on the DL a couple of times last season after hard hits at home plate.

[demshateGod]

Amen!

[Vaquero]

“He wuz out”. Yogi Berra

[VideoDoctor]

I say let’s NOT endanger ANYONE and play these ballgames ONLY on a computer. /s

[cripplecreek]

From the NY Times.

Some former catchers, like Oakland Athletics Manager Bob Melvin and Detroit Tigers Manager Brad Ausmus, wondered how ingrained instincts could be removed from the game. Base runners strive to score, and catchers strive to prevent them from scoring.

I guess the only way I see is to make home plate like any other base. Scoring at home will become easier but both teams will have the same advantage.

[ReaganÜberAlles]

Let’s put the ball on a tee at home plate. After all batters get hit with pitched balls. And while were at it, let’s put the pitcher behind a batting screen on the mound so that when the batter hits the ball of the tee he won’t get hurt.

The pussification and Obamafication of America continues.