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MLB likely to ban plate collisions


FlaO'sFan

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Coming from a fan who is undeniably upset towards the overreaching attempts to flag every hit in football, I have no problem with this at all.

Half the time it's unnecessary and the other half could be eliminated with the catcher not trying to block the plate. I nearly broke my leg trying to block the plate as a catcher and I was way too frightened to attempt it thereafter. This wouldn't change the game too much and it's a little thing that can easily take some injuries out of the game. Let's do it.

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I'm opposed to this on many fronts...however, I think that the fact of it being damn hard to enforce.

1. Another thing the umpire can screw up...take the game away from the umpire, don't add more to their duties.

2. At what point is there no chance for a catcher to make a play? Where is he allowed to stand? What if it's a bang bang play?

3. How is every single umpire gonna call this the same way every time? I guarantee you, explain the rules to 10 umpires and have them watch a video...I bet you get at least 30 percent error rate.

Catcher was my favorite position when I played. It's part of the position. The catcher should have their mask on unless there's a popup, so his safety should be fine. The runner has a helmet, so he should be fine.

Stupid rule.

I agree. I don't want people hurt but if the catcher is blocking the base path then

run into him to try to score. If the O's had a runner on third and the enemy

catcher is blocking the plate they would want the runner to run into him.

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So what are they gonna call if the catcher sets up up the line, gets the throw and gets barreled over? Automatically safe?

Or automatically out? I don't want any rule change. Sometimes catchers get hurt.

It happens. But sometimes a pitcher is hurt by a batted ball. It is a major league

sport and players get hurt sometimes.

Look at football players. They got all the protective garb on with a helmet. But

they still get hurt. I just don't want the powers that be to come up with some

rules that ruin the sport. Too many rules and regulations have ruined football for

me. I don't want the same thing happening in baseball. IMO

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On the other hand, it's not like all baserunners with avenues to the plate take them and avoid the catcher. Some barrel the catcher whether there is an avenue to the plate or not.

I never understood why a baserunner was allowed to go elbows up into face or neck of a catcher simply to dislodge the ball.

I think this rule is a long time coming. It's very simple. Catchers need to allow a path to the plate. Runners need to take that path.

The catcher can block the avenue if he has the ball, though. What causes so many of the plate collisions are catchers who set up a plate block before they receive the ball. You enforce that, and the collisions go down by a lot, because most runners try to avoid a collision with a "set with the ball" catcher who is just waiting there with the ball (the times I've seen that in the past few years, the runners have either just slowed up and given themselves up, tried to start a rundown, or tried to pull an Ichiro). Now, runners who see that they'll reach the catcher in very close proximity to the ball reaching them? That's when you get the warning alarms for an impending collision. Not that this is a 100% always true observation, but I do believe simply enforcing the runners right to the basepath and the catcher not being able to block in anyway without the ball you'd see less collisions, and perhaps more exciting plays at the plate as runners are sent just a bit more often to try and take advantage that the catcher can only step in the basepath with the ball. It's not like they can't set up like another infielder at the bag trying waiting for a ball. He can stand over/in front and have his foot in front of the plate, it just wont be as effective as his whole body between the runner and the plate (or an infielders foot in front of a base, since its flat and all).

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All that really needs to be avoided is the runner charging into the plate and hitting the catcher without sliding. Of course, if that were the only rule, then catchers could have the option to block the baseline and hitters would have no choice but to slide into them or take extreme measures to get around them, and be out every time. Hence, the "avenue to the plate" rule. Makes sense to me.

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Or automatically out? I don't want any rule change. Sometimes catchers get hurt.

It happens. But sometimes a pitcher is hurt by a batted ball. It is a major league

sport and players get hurt sometimes.

Look at football players. They got all the protective garb on with a helmet. But

they still get hurt. I just don't want the powers that be to come up with some

rules that ruin the sport. Too many rules and regulations have ruined football for

me. I don't want the same thing happening in baseball. IMO

There's actually arguments (some of which I agree with) that the more "protection" given to football players, the more likely for injury. These past few years, look at how fast and hard these guys would hit each other. Flying through the air, taking incredible physical risks...there's an illusion of safety with some of the protection. You wouldn't see those kinds of plays if they were out there with minimal padding and leather helmets, after all.

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There's actually arguments (some of which I agree with) that the more "protection" given to football players, the more likely for injury. These past few years, look at how fast and hard these guys would hit each other. Flying through the air, taking incredible physical risks...there's an illusion of safety with some of the protection. You wouldn't see those kinds of plays if they were out there with minimal padding and leather helmets, after all.

They did a study in Australia that showed Bike Helmets increased injuries since folks wearing them were taking risks helmeted riders would shy away from.

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To the people who are resisting change because of how it might change the game, stop it. College baseball (and high school) already has the rule, and it is very easy to enforce. It never comes up. Simple, small adjustment for safety.

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To the people who are resisting change because of how it might change the game, stop it. College baseball (and high school) already has the rule, and it is very easy to enforce. It never comes up. Simple, small adjustment for safety.

Easy enough to say, but who can accurately predict how professionals will handle it. You're probably right, though.

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This would be really dumb for MLB to do. What they need to be doing is the exact opposite, thinking about how to make the game more exciting for the younger generation. MLB, once the most popular sport in the America without question for years, has fallen behind the NBA, NFL, and even college football and basketball.

Most young kids these days couldn't care less about the sport. Too many other exciting sports to bother with baseball. I could see even the NHL surpassing MLB soon. Only a matter of time. Owners don't care right now because they are still making bank, thanks to the older generations whom still have interest in the sport (at least a major interest their hometown teams). In 30-40 years when this younger generation grows up and no one is showing up to the games, then what are they going to do?

NHL (removed the two-line offside pass), NBA (24 sec shot clock), and the NFL (encourages more passing) are always making changes to make the sport more watchable. MLB should be too. So let's keep the home plate collisions and make the NL use a DH. That's a start.

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This would be really dumb for MLB to do. What they need to be doing is the exact opposite, thinking about how to make the game more exciting for the younger generation. MLB, once the most popular sport in the America without question for years, has fallen behind the NBA, NFL, and even college football and basketball.

Most young kids these days couldn't care less about the sport. Too many other exciting sports to bother with baseball. I could see even the NHL surpassing MLB soon. Only a matter of time. Owners don't care right now because they are still making bank, thanks to the older generations whom still have interest in the sport (at least a major interest their hometown teams). In 30-40 years when this younger generation grows up and no one is showing up to the games, then what are they going to do?

NHL (removed the two-line offside pass), NBA (24 sec shot clock), and the NFL (encourages more passing) are always making changes to make the sport more watchable. MLB should be too. So let's keep the home plate collisions and make the NL use a DH. That's a start.

Yea, losing Buster Posey for a huge hunk of the season a couple of years ago really drew the kids in!

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Yea, losing Buster Posey for a huge hunk of the season a couple of years ago really drew the kids in!

Beat me to it. I'm all for trying to figure out how to cut down on the bone jarring collisions to cut down on needless injury, I just didn't like the tone taken in how to do so.

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Yea, losing Buster Posey for a huge hunk of the season a couple of years ago really drew the kids in!

I doubt many kids were watching to begin with. But if they were watching and if the kids were Giants fans I doubt that stopped them from watching. Would you stop watching the O's if Davis was out for a long time? And let me guess...you are about 50?

Injuries happen. Doesn't seem to hurt the NFL where a quarter of the roster is on the IR by the end of the season.

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I doubt many kids were watching to begin with. But if they were watching and if the kids were Giants fans I doubt that stopped them from watching. Would you stop watching the O's if Davis was out for a long time? And let me guess...you are about 50?

Injuries happen. Doesn't seem to hurt the NFL where a quarter of the roster is on the IR by the end of the season.

They won the WS the year before he was hurt, they won the WS the year after he was hurt. I am guessing that losing Posey hurt their chances that year. I don't have any evidence on hand but I am willing to bet that the young demographic turns off the TV quicker then the older folks when a team start losing.

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