Takeout "slides" at homeplate

[stormngt]

You can't ban it, but that doesn't make it any easier to watch. 

 

You've got a 200 pound person running at full speed towards a person who's standing still and vulnerable to being blindsided.

 

People can keep saying it's part of the game, but it just doesn't seem right. 

and the guy that is vulnerable is wearing protective gear and is blocking the basepath

[Lifetime]

and yet the reality is, the play is fairly rare and injuries from the collision are even rarer. 

[stormngt]

That's some groundbreaking analysis there, Lou. 

 

Of course the defense is allowed to block the base, the issue is that most runners aren't even going for the base, they're just mowing down vulnerable catchers at full speed by putting their shoulders into their heads.

 

Not the most admirable moments of those players' careers, that's for sure. 

I don't know if I buy that logic.  Why would a runner run away from home plate just to collide with a guy who has protective gear?  The only reason why they run over people is because the catcher is in the way.

[angelduck]

why should the runner be at a disadvantage by taking two extra steps in order to get around a catcher?  If the catcher is blocking the plate, run the sob over!  This seems like another example of the woosification of america.  We don't want anyone hurt, but hell, if the guy wants to block the plate...it should be fair game.

 

WTF? The whole argument is that most of the time the catcher isn't even blocking the plate. A lot of the times the catcher is setting up for a swipe tag and the runner still chooses to run him over. It has nothing to do with woosification of America. No clue what you're talking about. It has to do with eliminating unnecessary injuries and keeping the game as safe as possible. As usual...you find a way to miss the point.

[angelduck]

and yet the reality is, the play is fairly rare and injuries from the collision are even rarer. 

 

Got any facts to back this up? Not saying you're wrong it's just I can think of a few incidents off the top of my head that have resulted in injury. Can't really think of any that don't result in injury

[angelduck]

http://www.chadmoriyama.com/2012/04/mlb-should-ban-home-plate-collisions-and-takeout-slides/

 

 

Good article. Everyone should give it a read

[Spirit]

The most solid arguments are always "I can/can't think of any examples.  Therefore it did/didn't happen."

[angelduck]

The most solid arguments are always "I can/can't think of any examples.  Therefore it did/didn't happen."

 

And then you find out that that isn't my argument

[Spirit]

 I can think of a few incidents off the top of my head that have resulted in injury. Can't really think of any that don't result in injury

 

oh

[Lifetime]

WTF? The whole argument is that most of the time the catcher isn't even blocking the plate. A lot of the times the catcher is setting up for a swipe tag and the runner still chooses to run him over. It has nothing to do with woosification of America. No clue what you're talking about. It has to do with eliminating unnecessary injuries and keeping the game as safe as possible. As usual...you find a way to miss the point.

And that argument is without merit. Most of the time a plate collision occurs, the catcher is blocking the plate.

[CaliAngel]

We'll probably just have to wait until someone dies on the field from blunt brain trauma. 

 

Reactive par for the boneheaded sports course, really. 

[AZMike]

Pete Rose cost the Giants the 2011 season?

Maybe he paid Scott Cousins to take out Posey to help w/ his baseball futures situation?

[HeavenlyHalos]

So you guys are fine with having careers be potentially ruined by scumbags like Pete Rose? That's pretty ****ed up. Cost the Giants the 2011 season

Yes, it is part of the game.

[James]

Injury risks are part of being an athlete. I don't think their is enough historical proof that proves homeplate collisions result in injury at a degree that warrants the league to ban such a play.  

[laagamer]

I ump LL and HS, anyone who lowers shoulder or takes anyone out is gone instantly for malicious contact. They're kids. It's for fun.

But when you're making large amounts of money for providing entertainment, that's a different story. These are grown men.

It wouldn't change much. It'd still be the same game, but there's no denying the fact that watching a catcher simply vacate the plate or a runner just give himself up would be less exciting.

[AngelArcher]

While we're at it, let's ban OFers from crashing into the wall while trying to catch a ball. Oh wait, they can elect to pull up and play the ball off the wall, just like catchers can elect not to block the plate.

One solution I can think of to eliminate runners from going out of their way to run over a catcher is to automatically call them out. Even if they knocked the ball loose and maybe an ejection. But if the catcher blocks the plate, even if it's just their leg, then they're fair game.

[Blarg]

Should taking out the catcher be banned in your opinion?

 

My opinion: yes, it should be banned, no reason to have careers be potentially ruined. Thank God Buster healed...I would've been really butthurt about that (Big Posey fan rite here)

 

This is an example of why Angelduck's argumentitive skills are so faulty.

 

To start off he poses a question, a reasonable and high thought provoking question but nullfies it's value by first asserting his opinion based on being a fan of one particular player involved in his query.

 

The lack of objectivity instantly negates his value as a moderator of his question to the board and then he supplies zero supporting evidence just his personal recolections of a few games he has watched in his scant few years as a fan.

 

Once cornered he googles up an article as though it was in his defense all along.

 

And better yet his supposition is that collisions at the plate always involve catchers being injured but never even delves into the instances where the runner is injured in the collision. Nor does he seperate the differences of what he would consider a reasonable advance by the runner to secure a run scored as apposed to one that endangers either or both players.

 

In essences Angelduck really doesn't know what he is arguing but he really would have been pissed if Buster Posey career would have ended on an injury involving a play at the plate.

 

Insightful.

[Wallerrrr]

We'll probably just have to wait until someone dies on the field from blunt brain trauma. 

 

Reactive par for the boneheaded sports course, really. 

Because death from base runner / catcher collision has occurred how many times in the 100+ years of the sport?

 

Maybe we can eliminate physical contact altogether from baseball and play with flags? Just a thought...it would be a proactive step rather then reactive right?

[ELEVEN]

Insightful is as insightful duz

[Junkballer]

 

In this league, yes.  In leagues where pants are worn, no.

[Inside Pitch]

The only reason to argue in favor or stopping plays at the plate would be for financial reasons, teams have a lot to lose as do players who might see a long term injury or a shortened career.   But seriously, can we stop pussifying baseball into what youth sports has become?  When do they stop keeping score to avoid having someone walk away with a crushed ego?   It used to be somewhat common to go into second base cleats high.  Players went back to 1B on a pick off attempt with their elbows up, the intent being you would hit the 1B in the armpit to either make him not catch the ball or hurt him.  2Bmen used to be taught to come down knees first on a runner, runners were taught to take out anyone trying to turn the DP..  All IFers were told that the baseline was theirs and to throw at head level.  Nowadays a hitter wearing jousting gear will rush the mound on anything inside -- it's getting ridiculous.  

 

If catcher safety is that big of an issue, then make contact with the head illegal, but c'mon...   Last time I checked, it's the catcher that gets to wear more protective gear

[Justabitoutside]

you cant bowl over a catcher in high school ball (or college for that matter)

Just last week i watched a CSUF runner go through the USC catcher that was blocking. Run counted and no argument by the coach, so I believe you're incorrect.

[Wallerrrr]

this should get interesting

[Blarg]

Or obtuse.

[Wallerrrr]

interestingly obtuse?