Should Mauer block the plate?

[Cody Christie]

Just put together a post about the debate over collisions at the plate: http://twinsdaily.com/entry.php?130-To-block-the-plate-or-not-to-block-the-plate

 

Make sure to check it out and then I was wondering where everyone stood on the issue.

 

Should Mauer be standing in the way at home plate? The Twins have a lot of money invested in him for the greater part of the next decade. It still seems there are precautions a catcher can take when preparing for a hit.

 

Thoughts???

[Seth Stohs]

I definitely think it depends. If the catcher is able to set up and get into a sturdy position and the throw is where it needs to be to keep him out of harm's way, then block the plate. If not, live to play another day!

[denarded]

I'll add this here

A runner coming in from third on a grounder in the infield is not getting enough speed to cause a lot of harm. It's guys coming in from 2nd on a ball to the outfield which are potential trouble. Not sure why catchers don't move to the top of the plate and towards 3rd base to receive the throw and back-swipe tag with two hands as the runner comes in. I know that's an idealized view of how the play should go down, but if the pitcher or 1b is covering behind, let a bad throw that you can't make a play on go through and preserve your career. Although, aside from the two mentioned above, catchers seem to rarely get hurt. Sliding into second to break up a double play seems much more dangerous (Morneau)

 

[woolhouse]

I'll add this here

A runner coming in from third on a grounder in the infield is not getting enough speed to cause a lot of harm. It's guys coming in from 2nd on a ball to the outfield which are potential trouble. Not sure why catchers don't move to the top of the plate and towards 3rd base to receive the throw and back-swipe tag with two hands as the runner comes in. I know that's an idealized view of how the play should go down, but if the pitcher or 1b is covering behind, let a bad throw that you can't make a play on go through and preserve your career. Although, aside from the two mentioned above, catchers seem to rarely get hurt. Sliding into second to break up a double play seems much more dangerous (Morneau)

 

Or Nishioka.

[spideyo]

Catchers get hurt all the time, just not from collisions.

 

These days, how many guys are actually willing to go full-body collision into a catcher? Wether the catcher is properly positioned or not, the runner has a good chance of getting hurt too, especially when it's a big guy like Mauer.

[wblmayo24]

Imagine if you told Johnny Bench, Yogi Berra, Roy Campanella and Carlton Fish to NOT block the plate. Those guys guarded the plate with their life and they had decent careers (all HOFers). Joe is a BIG dude and he has blocked the plate very well in his career. Whatever you can do to give your team the best chance of scoring a run (runner) or preventing a run (catcher) is necessary and is what I want to see players on my team do. If that means run someone over or block the plate, great. These players are ALWAYS at risk getting hurt every minute of every day, for example: Zach Grienke sidelined for injuring his ribs playing basketball!

[Guest @_2244]

For the Twins to tell Mauer to stop, he would first have to start. Mauer is a sweep-tagger from way back.

[mnfireman]

I think because Mauer is a big guy most plays at the plate have been sweep tag type plays, i.e. where the runner tries to slap the plate as he slides by. Also, from what I recall, it has been awhile, but Mauer sets up out front and moves to the throw, not waiting for the ball to get to him, thus keeping collisions and the chance for injury to a minimum.