MLB will ban home plate collisions.......

[ABQCOWBOY]

MLB to ban home plate collisions

Updated: December 11, 2013, 5:51 PM ET
ESPN.com news services

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Major League Baseball plans to eliminate home plate collisions, possibly as soon as next season but no later than by 2015.

Sources tell ESPN.com's Buster Olney that there is a strong desire for MLB's rules committee to to fast track the specific rule changes in time for next season.

• Under the rules changes being discussed, sources told Olney:

• Catchers will not be allowed to block home plate.

• Runners will not be permitted to target the catchers.

• The question of whether or not the plate was blocked or the runner targeted the catcher will be reviewable, with an immediate remedy available to the umpires.

• Catchers or runners who violate the new rules will be subject to disciplinary action.


To read entire article, click here:
http://espn.go.com/mlb/hotstove13/story/_/id/10121849/mlb-intends-ban-home-plate-collisions-2015


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Don't look now folks but it's not just the NFL who plans on remaking it's sport into a pansy version of it's former self.............

 

[Keifer]

This is getting absolutely ridiculous. God I wish I didnt love sports so much because I really really want to tell the NFL and MLB to f off and not waste any more of my time and money on this crap.
To me the play at the plate is the most exiting play in baseball and as a former catcher I loved it. Sometimes I would get my bell rung and sometimes I would do the ringing but those few seconds that I was waiting for the throw to come in was more exiting than hitting a home run or throwing a runner out at second. I cannot believe they would want to take that away from the game.

 

[Phoenix]

Brilliant! They should also totally ban outfielders from ever running into each other! Also, they should ban the Pete Rose slide, because you know, headfirst...concussion....duh!! And, "Pete Rose"-originated and all...and they should ban managers from rushing onto the field to argue with refs! And, and, no more parents at little league / pop warner games! And, and...okay, I'll stop.

 

[Rogah]

I don't really care one way or another what the rules are, but I have always maintained that it was just a stupid thing to do. 1 single run in 1 game of 162 is simply not worth getting injured over.

However, you people criticizing MLB clearly aren't the ones who will be paying the hundreds of milloins of dollars they could stand to lose if they even got sued like the NFL did. So it is important to be able to establish in a court of law that you did everything you could do solve the problem.

 

[burmafrd]

and if that one run is in the bottom of the 9th in the 7th game of the world series?

How many have been seriously injured in 100 years as regards collisions? That to me just shouts typical PC stupidity.

 

[GcwRyan]

I could see some pros and cons to this.
But will be weird to not see them.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

and if that one run is in the bottom of the 9th in the 7th game of the world series?

How many have been seriously injured in 100 years as regards collisions? That to me just shouts typical PC stupidity.

Exactly.

I'd like to hear Rogah tell us how often players have been seriously injured from home plate collisions.. because i guarentee you its a very small percentage.

 

[Tabascocat]

This may be nothing more than setting up defense for possible future lawsuits. With the players getting faster and stronger in all sports, MLB may have seen a glimpse of their future from the NFL.

I only recall one significant injury from recent memory and that happened to Buster Posey(SF). This play is very infrequent anyways, most catchers just block the plate with a knee or leg.

Where is the line drawn at?

Are they going to take away runners being able to take out the 2nd baseman on double-play balls?

Are they going to implement a yellow line 15 ft from the outfield wall where the fielders have to yield too? Walls cause more injuries than anything in baseball.

What about players diving into first base? Ankles are lost that way.

The play with the most potential to cause injury(head trauma) is a 100 mph fastball to the helmet or face. Are they going to soften up the balls or move the rubber back?

This is baseball, let them play how it was intended....there is no reason to change the rules.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I don't really care one way or another what the rules are, but I have always maintained that it was just a stupid thing to do. 1 single run in 1 game of 162 is simply not worth getting injured over.

However, you people criticizing MLB clearly aren't the ones who will be paying the hundreds of milloins of dollars they could stand to lose if they even got sued like the NFL did. So it is important to be able to establish in a court of law that you did everything you could do solve the problem.

That's true but the other side of that coin is that Baseball is losing fans, especially young ones, by the droves. The play at home is easily one of the most exciting plays in the game of Baseball. I am not sure it's wise to take away from that. I guess we'll see.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

This may be nothing more than setting up defense for possible future lawsuits. With the players getting faster and stronger in all sports, MLB may have seen a glimpse of their future from the NFL.

I only recall one significant injury from recent memory and that happened to Buster Posey(SF). This play is very infrequent anyways, most catchers just block the plate with a knee or leg.

The Posey play was different indeed. That injury actually occurred because he got his leg pinned behind him. That almost never ever happens with plays at the plate. You take the brunt of the contact in the chest area, normally. That was atypical for sure IMO.

Good point dex.

 

[Rogah]

and if that one run is in the bottom of the 9th in the 7th game of the world series?

Could you please give me an example of when that has happened?

 

[burmafrd]

Could you please give me an example of when that has happened?

Show me where it has not?

 

[Hoov]

The most exciting thing in baseball is the close play with the runner sliding into home plate. Won't be the same with the rule change

 

[Keifer]

I don't really care one way or another what the rules are, but I have always maintained that it was just a stupid thing to do. 1 single run in 1 game of 162 is simply not worth getting injured over.

However, you people criticizing MLB clearly aren't the ones who will be paying the hundreds of milloins of dollars they could stand to lose if they even got sued like the NFL did. So it is important to be able to establish in a court of law that you did everything you could do solve the problem.

Your right the courts are at the root of all of this. Not just ex athletes but society in general has become less about earning your way through life and more about taking what others have earned through ridiculous law suits and entitlements. NFL players from the past have seen a chance for some easy money and MLB is trying to shore up their end before they get hit too.

What makes me mad is that they actually have the resources to fight this and potentially put and end to the insanity but instead they cave and let the sport become a shell of what it was.

 

[burmafrd]

Could you please give me an example of when that has happened?

has happened plenty of times in 100 years that it decided games. Much more reasonable than your way of looking at it