Going after the catcher rather than going after the plate should be illegal.
"This isn’t stats vs scouts - this is stats and scouts working together, building an organization that blends the best of both worlds. This is the blueprint for how a baseball organization should be run. And, whether the baseball men of the 20th century like it or not, this is where baseball is going."---Dave Cameron, U.S.S. Mariner
I agree, in theory. But one cannot assume that the play is always an either-or. In fact, it would generally be very difficult to know that by going through the catcher the player is not going for the plate.Going after the catcher rather than going after the plate should be illegal.
It could be very simple for the ump though. The catcher is not allowed to block the plate and the runner has to slide/go for the plate.
Collisions are still going to happen because of the bang, bang nature of close plays and ultimately it would be up to the judgement of an ump but the scenario at home would no longer be one in which a collision was inevitable.
"This isn’t stats vs scouts - this is stats and scouts working together, building an organization that blends the best of both worlds. This is the blueprint for how a baseball organization should be run. And, whether the baseball men of the 20th century like it or not, this is where baseball is going."---Dave Cameron, U.S.S. Mariner
Why stop at home plate collisions. MLB should use the double width bag at 1b like they use in youth baseball, also. Heart guards and facemasks on the helmets. Pink bats all year, no diving for balls because of possible collisions with the ground. Who's got treats this game?
"Rounding 3rd and heading for home, good night everybody"
If violence is exciting, maybe we should have more of it. Let's go back to the rule where a player who touched a ball while off a bag was out -- dodge ball style. That would be fun!
Oh, and let's take away those silly looking helmets batters wear. Be a man, wear a regular cap.
Games are won on run differential -- scoring more than your opponent. Runs are runs, scored or prevented they all count the same. Worry about scoring more and allowing fewer, not which positions contribute to which side of the equation or how "consistent" you are at your current level of performance.
I'm guessing you do not watch or enjoy football? Hockey? Basketball and hard fouls that happen within the flow of the game? Honestly, I think the idea of making a rule about no collisions in MLB is at the level of suggesting that t-ball soft bouncy balls should be used so that pitchers don't hurt batters in case one gets away. And thinking that these types of things are a natural result of the game is not akin to suggesting that NO safety measures are needed or is not "macho," as you are trying to turn the argument toward.
Further, I am not understanding where you have arrived at an argument that those who see this as a part of the way the game is played and should be continued is because they are excited by "violence." Strawman, extra straw.
Last edited by traderumor; 05-28-2011 at 12:10 AM.
"Rounding 3rd and heading for home, good night everybody"
Isn't part of the problem that a lot of young catchers don't know how to block the plate correctly? I know they eliminate this issue from certain ranks in baseball and some players first experience with truely blocking the plate starts in the minor league.
It's much more a logical extension of your argument than a straw man. There is reasonable risk associated with maintaining the integrity of high calibre competition and then there is gratuitous risk that is unnecessary. Collisions at home are unnecessary. If the argument is that they add essential excitement to the game, then MLB damaging the game by no increasing unnecessary risk.
Eliminating collisions at home would require a simple sentence in the rule book.
"This isn’t stats vs scouts - this is stats and scouts working together, building an organization that blends the best of both worlds. This is the blueprint for how a baseball organization should be run. And, whether the baseball men of the 20th century like it or not, this is where baseball is going."---Dave Cameron, U.S.S. Mariner
Hoping to change my username to 75769024
Right now the rule is that the runner cannot run over the catcher unless the catcher is blocking the plate. This gives the catcher the option to block the plate and expect a collision, ala Mick Scoscia, or stand in front of the plate and do a sweep tag ala Johnny Bench.
I see no problem in giving the catcher the option of being run over or doing a sweep tag. If he gets hurt, that was his choice. What's wrong with that?
Hoping to change my username to 75769024
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