Article: Cutting Out Collisions Could Help Mauer

[Cody Christie]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=2419-Cutting-Out-Collisions-Could-Help-Mauer

[Oldgoat_MN]

Nice article.

This could be a tough sell, Codie.

Runners will argue that a catcher blocking the plate deserves no quarter. Even as a former catcher I can understand that.

 

Collisions should be few and far between, and they are.

When they happen it is often because the catcher is trying to avoid letting the other team score. A catcher sees himself as the last possible line of defense.

 

A dangerous choice, to stand in the way of someone with a full head of steam coming down the line. But with the results of a whole game on the line it is a choice that is made in the moment, and not always the practical one.

 

Banning collisions may be the right thing to say.

It ain't really that easy.

[Mike Sixel]

Sure it is. Ban them. If a catcher blocks the plate with anything other that his glove, toss him, and call the runner safe. If a runner changes course to run over a catcher, toss him, call him out also. In a few months the world will be better. Not really that hard. Rules change all the time in sports, this is a good rule to change.

[DJL44]

The catcher, like any other infielder, should be allowed to block the base only if he has the ball or must go into the baseline to field the ball. Likewise the runner, like at any other base, should be called out for interference if he tries to knock the ball out of the catcher's glove. There is no reason to have different rules at home plate. The current rules lead to increased injury risk for the catcher AND the baserunner. Those rules have already been changed at lower levels (NCAA since 2002) to prevent injury.

 

This is how Rule 7.06( reads currently

 

"The catcher, without the ball in his possession, has no right to block the pathway of the runner attempting to score. The base line belongs to the runner and the catcher should be there only when he is fielding a ball or when he already has the ball in his hand."

 

Seems clear to me. Runners should be called safe if the catcher is obstructing. The only thing required is to clarify that running over the catcher is interference just like it is at any other base. I think running over the catcher should mean other baserunners can be called out as well because the runner is preventing the catcher from making a play on those runners.