Point/Counterpoint: Banning Plate Collisions

[AngelsWin.com]

POINT - The “Pussification” of Baseball

By Nathan Trop, AngelsWin.com Columnist

Baseball’s rumored prohibition of plate collisions is a tragic “pussification” of baseball.  Plate collisions are a part of baseball lore.  Some of the best baseball highlights you will ever see involve a player barreling down the third base line with the catcher in position to make that all-important out at the plate.

In a 1995 game against the Kansas City Royals, then Detroit Tiger Kirk Gibson barreled into Royals Catcher Pat Borders to give us one of the best action photos ever taken of baseball.

Now imagine if Gibson were to prance down the third baseline like a ballerina, blow a friendly little kiss to Borders and make a wide circle around him to home plate.  If you think that visual is disturbing, imagine the frustration in the dugout over losing a vital opportunity to score a run.

What if Erstad never plowed over Johnny Estrada in 2005? 

AngelsWin.com would be reduced to talking about dog names, iced tea, grilled cheese sandwiches, fat five year olds, or the debate over which is worse: DUIs or the fact that Bartolo Colon still looks like Jabba the Hutt after all that HGH.

The fact is that teams already go to great lengths to protect their players.  They put pitchers on pitch counts, innings counts, and they teach middle infielders how to avoid takeout slides.  There has already been talk of teams training their catchers how to avoid plate collisions.  I say we let the players and teams decide how to handle this aspect of player safety as well.  Do we really want baseball umpires to enforce a subjective rule?  Even if it is reviewed, do you trust the judgment of Doug Eddings or Joe West?

By the way, there is no truth to the rumor that Joe West is the father of that fat five year old.

As a soccer fan (don’t judge!), one of my biggest issues with the sport is the players who will take a dive after the tiniest bit of contact (or even a slight breeze) to draw a foul.  How long until every time a catcher gets his toe stepped on, he falls to the ground in pain like he just got bowled over?

How long until baseball starts to feel like the NFL?  Football is hardly fun to watch sometimes because of all of the bad calls.  Calls based on subjective rules around “player safety.”

I am not saying we shouldn’t care about player safety, but we also shouldn’t be wrapping the players in bubble wrap and having them use a tee to avoid being hit by a pitch.

This is Major League Baseball!  These are grown men making millions of dollars to play a game!  This is the American pastime!

Let’s not take away the action and anticipation of a runner barreling threateningly down the third baseline, the ball being thrown into the base path at home plate and the game-winning run hanging in the blance!

COUNTERPOINT – Safety is not “Pussification”

By Glen McKee, AngelsWin.com Columnist

Nate, you ignorant slut!

OK, I get it.  The most exciting moment in baseball is seeing a catcher get plowed over like an alfalfa field on bailing day.  I understand that, and will confess to occasionally enjoying such moments…when I was younger.   But now, not so much.  All I see is a bizarre exception to the rules of running the base path and the potential for injury and even serious injury. 

I agree that these collisions have given us some of the best photos in baseball, but the distinction of the best baseball action photo belongs to this one.  (Side Note: if anybody wants to get me a Christmas present, I’d love a signed copy of this print)

Yes, I’ll admit, the home plate collision has given us one of baseball’s most memorable moments.  Of course, I’m talking about Pete Rose giving his version of jazz hands to Ray Fosse in the 1970 All Star Game.  It’s particularly memorable for Fosse, except that he probably can’t remember it now.

The home plate collision is a relic and it deserves to be shelved with other relics, just like the Ark of the Covenant at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark.  Really, do we want to melt other baseball players with this collision? ( AJ Pierzynski aside, of course.)   If you’re an Angels fan and attached to relics, well, you can get your fix watching #5 play next year, and daydreaming about how he used to hit.  Good times, those. 

I may be alone in thinking this, but the idea of Gibson in a ballerina dress sounds pretty damn funny.  I’d pay a few bucks to see that.  (Don’t judge!)

As for this “going too far to protect players,” baseball has batting helmets, rules about throwing at batters, and probably has training lectures about how dumb head-first slides are.  There shouldn’t be a problem with exploring further methods, as long as they are sensibly implemented.  Nobody is talking about anything drastic.  You can even simplify it: just say the catcher can’t block the plate until he has the ball.  Use that as the starting point and figure it out from there.  No bubble wrap necessary.

Which brings me to my next point:  Umpires and enforcement.  Given the Angels’ history with umpires – Eddings and West, I still fart in your general directions – I’m reluctant to trust them with yet more responsibilities.  However, you can’t use that as an excuse not to implement.  Make the rule, test it out, and adjust it as necessary.  Just like Obamacare, in a few years it’ll be just fine!  Amirite?  Back me up on this one, Nate.

In conclusion, your honor, and ladies and gentlemen of the jury:  This is indeed baseball and grown men are voluntarily playing a child’s game for ridiculous amounts of money.  There will still be the anticipation of a close play at the plate, just without the collision.  It will still be exciting.  It will just be the excitement level of a Hamilton at-bat, as opposed to a Trumbo at-bat.  I’m good with that.

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[Chuck]

Outstanding Glen and Nate! Seriously laughed my ass off after reading this earlier. lol

[Splint7438]

Torn between the two sides. I do believe that collisions are part of the game. The catcher is geared up to take the hit. As long as it isn't a dirty play I am fine with a hard collision. However using Nolan Ryan punking Robin Ventura to make a point is always a winning argument.

[IEAngelsfan]

Funny article, but you both lost some credibility when Nate admits that he's a soccer fan and Glen lusting after Gibson in drag.

[nate]

Thanks.  I had a blast writing it!

 

Glen is clearly wrong but I appreciate his effort.

 

I leave you with Ty Cobb.

 

[Jimmag]

Need to read all of this when not sitting in a sports bar watching NFL. What I have seen ioi

No big deal if banned.

Great stuff

[Blarg]

If a first baseman blocked the path to the bag would the same rules apply to you guys about running him over?

 

Catchers take advantage of being armored tanks at the plate and will stand in direct line to the only way a runner can score. So where is the line you draw here? If you would complain about a first baseman in the base path why not a catcher?

 

I think the same rules apply, get the hell out of the runners way and allow them to reach base safely. Anything less is the first baseman/catcher interfering with the runners right to the bag/plate and they do so at their own risk. Any rule that contends with that basic part of the game is not in the best interest of the sport.

[Lhalo]

The home plate collision is a relic and it deserves to be shelved with other relics, just like the Ark of the Covenant at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark.

 

I'd rather let the players decide the game than "top men".

 

[Blarg]

Oh, and I forgot to add that we all agree with Glen on one thing, that his SNL reference is dead on.

[Spirit]

You guys killed it on this.  Great job!

[Chuck]

You guys killed it on this. Great job!

Absolutely!

[Ohtaniland]

To Nate and Glen, this was funny stuff.....Well done guys! 

[JAHV76]

That picture of Nolan is classic. The later picture of him pitching with blood on the jersey is classic as well.

[Spirit]

I've read this thing like 5 times now.  So good guys!

 

BTW ...  what the hell is up with Kirk Gibson's hair?!?!   It's flying around, but he's bald in the middle.  Classic.

[arch stanton]

Taking the most direct route to home plate is fine by me. Going out of your way to hit the catcher is not cool. Blocking the plate without the ball is begging to get nailed.

[The Ghost of Bob Starr]

Funny article, but you both lost some credibility when Nate admits that he's a soccer fan and Glen lusting after Gibson in drag.

 

Don't ask him how he began liking the sport, or how he picked his favorite team.  It's more feminine than liking soccer itself (according to the majority of this board.)

Edited December 13, 2013 by Jeff S.

[The Ghost of Bob Starr]

Zucker, Abhrams, and Zucker would be proud of this.

 

Nice job Nate and Glen.

[Lhalo]

I've read this thing like 5 times now.  So good guys!

 

BTW ...  what the hell is up with Kirk Gibson's hair?!?!   It's flying around, but he's bald in the middle.  Classic.

It's the ultimate skullet.

[floplag]

Thing about it for me is this... dont patronize us and say its about player safety.. its about protecting investments and avoiding lawsuits... nothing more, when it comes to the owners. 
This isnt a new thing?  Posey lost a year, Fosse lost a career... where was the outrage then?
They have basically taken any reason to wear a cup out of the game, assuming there are any balls left to protect.

[Spirit]

Funny article, but you both lost some credibility when Nate admits that he's a soccer fan and Glen lusting after Gibson in drag.

 

 

Don't judge!!

[Salome]

I just keep hearing George Carlin.

[HaloMilliVanilli]

Taking the most direct route to home plate is fine by me. Going out of your way to hit the catcher is not cool. Blocking the plate without the ball is begging to get nailed.

This.  The rule should be if the catcher gives you a route to the plate you should be required to take it.  If the ball beats you and a tag is applied, you are out.  Catcher stands there like a dumbass and puts himself between the runner and the plate, fair game.  Kind of reminds me of playing basketball and you beat your man off the dribble so he just hacks you so you can't score.  Fielder did his job and made the throw.  Catcher did his job and caught it and readies to tag the runner out (who is beaten badly).  Runner says "F it" and just goes all rugby.  Never liked that.

[Splint7438]

You can block any base if you have the ball. When a pitcher throws a pic off move blocking the base is legal. If you have the ball. Same on a stolen base attempt.

[Jay]

This is going to be another of those rules where there's no call on the field but three days later the league office hands down a suspension.

[stormngt]

The problem I have with the new rule is that I believe it will give too much inconsistency in enforcement.  The rule says the catcher can't block the plate unless he has the ball.  What happens if he blocks it right before he gets the ball?  Is it up the ump to decide that split second moment.  If you are going to ban plate collisions, the catcher should give half the plate open for a slide.  Than tage the guy.  If not, if your are blocking the plate than it should be fair game.

 

Some here commented that players block the plate at other bases as well.  However, it is only the catcher that wears a protective shell.  

 

If you are going to ban the collisions, insist on the catcher to give room for a slide.