But many catchers “cheat” and start blocking the plate before the ball arrives in their glove.Įd DeCaria: Thanks, Bruce. And while catchers are allowed to block the path to the plate, technically they are only supposed to do so when they already have the ball. Over-run the other bases, and you can be tagged out.īruce Markusen: To pick up on Steve’s point, players like McRae, Don Baylor, and Frank Robinson used to execute what was called a “rolling block” on second basemen and shortstops on double play attempts. Greg Simons: You can run through home plate (assuming you touch it along the way) and be safe. ![]() This infrequently works only because infielders know the runner will slide in, not barrel in. Same at second sometimes on stolen-base attempts. Wasn’t Ducky Medwick a high-spikes player?Įd DeCaria: Two related questions: Would there be collisions at the plate if the catcher didn’t first attempt to block it? Would there be frequent collisions at other bases (particularly first base) if the fielder DID routinely attempt to block it?ĭale Bye: Catchers do sometimes try to stonewall the plate, but third basemen sometimes-I don’t think it’s often-stick their foot in front of the bag so that the sliding runner hits their foot, not the bag. In fact, my impression from the earlier days is that high spikes was the norm, not collisions. Maybe back in the Ty Cobb days there were tag-play collisions at other bases, but I don’t recall any from the ’50s on. They’re still old school regarding the play at the plate, presumably because the catcher is not only better protected in terms of his gear but also is more likely to see the play before him and be less likely to be off-balance than an infielder.ĭale Bye: I believe the McRae collisions were to break up double plays, not to jar the ball loose on tag plays. But since then, the leagues have cracked down on those plays, simply because of the injury risk to infielders. Hal McRae was famous for them, as were lots of other baserunners in that era and before. Steve Treder: Well, there used to be “good, clean, hard baseball” collisions at other bases. ![]() I’m sure the traditional distinction is safety-based, figuring the catcher is better-protected. Joe Distelheim: Of course, there’s debate ( Buster Posey, last year) about whether running into the catcher should be allowed or at least should be subject to new tests. It sparked a lively discussion, excerpted here: I threw the question out to The Hardball Times community of writers and editors, many of whom like nothing better than an excuse to discuss baseball in the midst of a midweek workday. Oh, and he’s a Cardinals fan (could you guess?). He’s Dale Bye, former sports editor of the Kansas City Star, former managing editor of The Sporting News, a baseball history buff and a longtime friend. ![]() I should tell you that the writer is not a baseball neophyte. (The score was 8-0 at the time, which might have been one reason, but even had it been 0-0, McKenry still would have slid into the tag rather than trying to knock the ball loose as is fairly routine at home plate.) Why didn’t he execute a good, clean, hard baseball play, lower his shoulder and knock Skip Schmaker into short left field? Matt Holliday cut it off and threw to second in plenty of time to get McKenry. If a home-plate collision is “just good, clean, hard baseball” (as it’s typically termed), why aren’t there good, clean, hard baseball plays at other bases?įor example, later in the game, Mike McKenry hit one into the gap in left-center. This question is sparked by the Josh Harrision- Yadier Molina collision, but it’s something I have talked about before. Dale from Bainbridge Island, Wash., writes:
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