Good Cuts.

[obtusebanter]

Mark Salas blocked the heck outta that plate.

 https://twitter.com/MNTwinsZealot/status/1246511424828067842

[David HK]

Heh... Klawitter- Wisconsin boy.

 

I remember Billy Gardner saying that when he wanted him to come into the game, he'd look toward the bullpen and raise his hand like a claw... 

[theBOMisthebomb]

Watching catchers block the plate and the ensuing collision seems so barbaric compared to today. I recently saw Brian Harper get blasted on a 1991 World Series replay. Vicious. I do miss the collisions, though. I also miss the take out slide at 2nd base to break up the double play.

[stringer bell]

 

Watching catchers block the plate and the ensuing collision seems so barbaric compared to today. I recently saw Brian Harper get blasted on a 1991 World Series replay. Vicious. I do miss the collisions, though. I also miss the take out slide at 2nd base to break up the double play.

I don't miss the excesses of needless injuries and having players' careers shortened. I think that turning the double play has changed a lot due to the rules changes. The second baseman can stand on top of the bag without fear of being taken into short left field.

[ewen21]

 

Heh... Klawitter- Wisconsin boy.

 

I remember Billy Gardner saying that when he wanted him to come into the game, he'd look toward the bullpen and raise his hand like a claw... 

Looked up that game.  He faced 10 batters and walked four.  Ouch

[Heistyman]

 

I don't miss the excesses of needless injuries and having players' careers shortened. I think that turning the double play has changed a lot due to the rules changes. The second baseman can stand on top of the bag without fear of being taken into short left field.

The second base position has changed drastically since the rule change with bigger players that are less graceful playing the position. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Watching catchers block the plate and the ensuing collision seems so barbaric compared to today. I recently saw Brian Harper get blasted on a 1991 World Series replay. Vicious. I do miss the collisions, though. I also miss the take out slide at 2nd base to break up the double play.

While I miss the catcher blocking the plate like a madman holding a position, I do NOT miss the takeout slide at second. 

The play at the plate is definitely more dangerous overall, but often times the runner and catcher had a silent agreement that they're going to collide with ferocious intent to see who comes out the victor. Sometimes the catcher had the advantage and would put a shoulder down to stop the runner and put a serious hurt on them, other times the runner would have the advantage and put a shoulder down to bowl over the catcher.

 

The play at second, not so much. One player was always at a disadvantage and often suspended in air to make a dynamic play while the runner went straight at their knees or feet in a potentially crippling move.

 

Mind you, I have no issues with either play being banned from baseball but the play at home had at least something approaching an equal footing a lot of the time. The play at second rarely had an equal footing and was little more than a deterrent suggesting "do this and I'll injure you".

 

There's a significant difference between those two plays.

[Nine of twelve]

 

While I miss the catcher blocking the plate like a madman holding a position, I do NOT miss the takeout slide at second. 

 

This should never have been part of the game in the first place, and should never be again. Plus, Hal McRae was a jerk, to put it kindly.

[ashbury]

 

This should never have been part of the game in the first place, and should never be again. Plus, Hal McRae was a jerk, to put it kindly.

Interference. Runner goes back to third. Is this difficult?

 

[Nine of twelve]

 

Interference. Runner goes back to third. Is this difficult?
 

No it is not. At least it shouldn't be. And the batter-runner is out at first.

[theBOMisthebomb]

This should never have been part of the game in the first place, and should never be again. Plus, Hal McRae was a jerk, to put it kindly.

That's quite an extreme example. Point taken. I'm not sure how that ump could just stand there and do nothing. I remember my Legion cosch telling us to "carve 'em up like swiss cheese". Very barbaric. I still miss the clean break up of a double play, though agree with your point that it's best out of the game and avoiding senseless injuries.

[jkcarew]

Despite legend, runners were NEVER free to do anything they wanted to the catcher or 2nd-baseman. And not that many players suffered severe injuries...even fewer career-impacting injuries. (Yes, there's the "even one is too many" argument.)

 

Back in the day, umpires could call interference any time they saw fit (and often did)...runners could elect to protect their own bodies (and usually did)...and, or course as a last resort, the players would resort to policing themselves. It usually worked. Now, there are all kinds of rules about what you can and can't do. The new rules cause other problems (unnecessary delays) and have other unintended consequences (225 pound muscled-up second-basemen that add to the 3-true-outcome epidemic)...but are likely to result in a small reduction in impactful injuries over time. Worth it? I don't think the answer is that much of a slam dunk.

[gunnarthor]

One of my favorite baseball memories was the Hunter/Burke collusion in 2004. I couldn't find the video but there's a nice picture in this link - https://toptenchicagosports.blogspot.com/2008/01/top-ten-chicago-rivals.html?m=0

 

Cleaning up the game by taking out some of the traditional roughness (HBP, take out slides, blocking the plate, brawls) has had the unintended consequence of making baseball a bit more boring. Sports - not just baseball - are better when fans know that the players hate each other, too, and we can see the players emotions. Most of us have very fond memories of things like Hunter's take out slide, McHale's clothesline, Nolan Ryan or Pedro intimidating hitters, 70s Steelers/Raiders, etc. 

The early 2000s Red Sox/Yankees were great - you always knew some **** was going to happen. A fan trying to hit Sheffield in Right Field, Zimmer v. Pedro, crazy Clemens. Say what you want, it's been 20 years and we still remember it. Twins/White Sox was nearly as much fun. We had three straight series where the benches emptied in 04. Good times, good times. 

[Nine of twelve]

 

Sports - not just baseball - are better when fans know that the players hate each other, too,

Speak for yourself. I think sports are much better when players have strong mutual respect and understand that playing the game hard, but cleanly, is the best thing for everyone. I myself don't hate any team or fans.

 

 

 

 

Except maybe the Yankees.

[obtusebanter]

 

 

This should never have been part of the game in the first place, and should never be again. Plus, Hal McRae was a jerk, to put it kindly.

 

I was trying to find that Don Baylor slide from game 7 in '87 for contrast (Baylor was safe! Steve Lake cradled that ball up against his chest!  That tag was pure garbage).  But alas...

I did find that lone home run though:

 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGqlEL54hr8

[AceWrigley]

 

I myself don't hate any team or fans.

 

 

 

 

Except maybe the Yankees.

You aren't a hockey fan i guess or you are too young. Even though I live in New England, I still hate the Bruins for what Dave Forbes did to Henry Boucha.

[Nine of twelve]

 

You aren't a hockey fan i guess or you are too young. Even though I live in New England, I still hate the Bruins for what Dave Forbes did to Henry Boucha.

I feel the same way about Forbes. SOB should have been convicted. I was a North Stars fan and went to most of the home playoff games in 1991, including that last loss to Pittsburgh. The guys just ran out of gas those last few games. And I was hurt when Worm Green moved the team to Dallas. But I just never found the same passion for the Wild, I've never attended one of their games, and at this point I have come to dislike fighting as part of the professional game. I do keep track of college hockey, though, and my heart is gladdened by each UMD win and each Gophers loss. The Gopher's men's hockey program and their fans are right down there with the Yankees. Same sense of entitlement, same arrogance.

Oh, and Slap Shot is one of my favorite movies of all time.

[Oldgoat_MN]

 

You aren't a hockey fan i guess or you are too young. Even though I live in New England, I still hate the Bruins for what Dave Forbes did to Henry Boucha.

Don't hate the Bruins for it, but Forbes? Yeah.

[theBOMisthebomb]

I feel the same way about Forbes. SOB should have been convicted. I was a North Stars fan and went to most of the home playoff games in 1991, including that last loss to Pittsburgh. The guys just ran out of gas those last few games. And I was hurt when Worm Green moved the team to Dallas. But I just never found the same passion for the Wild, I've never attended one of their games, and at this point I have come to dislike fighting as part of the professional game. I do keep track of college hockey, though, and my heart is gladdened by each UMD win and each Gophers loss. The Gopher's men's hockey program and their fans are right down there with the Yankees. Same sense of entitlement, same arrogance.

Oh, and Slap Shot is one of my favorite movies of all time.

You meant to say, "The NORTH DAKOTA men's hockey program and their fans are right down there with the Yankees. Same sense of entitlement, same arrogance." Right?!?

[Nine of twelve]

 

You meant to say, "The NORTH DAKOTA men's hockey program and their fans are right down there with the Yankees. Same sense of entitlement, same arrogance." Right?!?

No.

[TFRazor]

 

Speak for yourself. I think sports are much better when players have strong mutual respect and understand that playing the game hard, but cleanly, is the best thing for everyone. I myself don't hate any team or fans.

 

 

 

 

Except maybe the Yankees.

I personally don't hate the Yankees... I loathe them with a passion.

[yarnivek1972]

I personally don't hate the Yankees... I loathe them with a passion.

All you need is loathe...

[AceWrigley]

 

Don't hate the Bruins for it, but Forbes? Yeah.

I hear you, but it was a culture of intimidation and thuggery including Stan Jonathan, Terry O'Reilly, Mike Milbury, John Wensink, Lyndon Byers, etc. that always made me want the North Stars to beat 'em 10-0 every time we played them.  I do miss high school hockey in Minnesota, great hockey and good fun. Go Southwest Indians (oh yeah, it's now the Lakers, right?).

[Nine of twelve]

 

I hear you, but it was a culture of intimidation and thuggery including Stan Jonathan, Terry O'Reilly, Mike Milbury, John Wensink, Lyndon Byers, etc. that always made me want the North Stars to beat 'em 10-0 every time we played them.

And don't forget who was coaching the Bruins then: Don Cherry. Anyone who is familiar with him knows what you are talking about.