The wussification of baseball

I disagree. I watch a lot of baseball, and honestly think the collision at home plate and resulting concussions do very little for the game.

To me, baseball is a game of strategy and grace. The crash at home plate doesn't (in my opinion) do anything for the game except generate dramatic photographs. Many of the great catchers, managers, and players of the modern era also agree that home plate collisions should go.

Stepping on the plate by the catcher, just like the other bases, should be the play. I do not support the idea of a "neighborhood" out, however.

 

What you've described at other bases can only occur when there is a force out, and even then the base runner is allowed to take out the fielder. Then rule change for home plate collisions only applies when the force out is not in play. If the force out is in play at home, a collision with the catcher is considered interference if it's not the third out any there are other base runners.

 

I don't think the onus should be on catchers -they're not the ones doing the tackling. Baserunners are coming in like bunker busters and *that* is what has to stop. Slide or glide but don't collide.

 

Having played a little bit of baseball in my day, I have witnessed and been involved in numerous collisions at the plate. More often then not it is the runner that comes away with the worst of it. Most plays at the plate the catcher has enough time to brace himself. That along with along with all the gear gives him a bit of an advantage. Even in head to head collisions the runner might knock the catcher over, but the catcher generally comes away in better shape. I'm not sure how they are going to enforce this rule, my feeling is that we will have many playas disputed because of the bang bang of the play. It will be much like helmet to helmet in the NFL. I'm always in support of eliminating injuries, but try to imagine a tie game in the bottom of the 9th with the winning run flying around the bases and then just stopping to get tagged at the plate.

 

Great post. What catcher isn't going to block home plate? Usually the catcher is one of the toughest players on the field, and that guy is NOT going to step aside when a runner is barrelling at him, bottom of the 9th, big game.

Sorry, this is a stupid rule.

 

Agreed. Many more guys get hurt when they get taken out during a doubleplay at 2nd base. This is just the MLB trying to get out in front of the concussion issue.

 

mlb is looking at long term liability issuses, ala nfl lawsuits.

 

also, the real wussification came when they outlawed sharpening of metal cleats.

 

Exactly!

 

Title of this post could have easily been the wussification of all sports, and all of society for that matter. AKA the feminization of men.

 

So what happens when a runner is rounding 3rd and the ball is coming in hot to the plate? The catcher has to concede the base? Or the runner is automatically out?

 

That's the point. There will be so many contested calls because of this. They might require the runner to slide, which again gives the advantage to the catcher. That's the way they play it in amateur baseball leagues.

 

They still play baseball?
I thought steroids killed it?
Is this the game where they 'play' for three hours, but only have a legitimate SEVEN MINUTES of actual 'action'?

 

All sports. Not just baseball. God forbid someone should get hurt playing a sport.

Having the catcher block a runner a home plate is one of the (few) exciting things that happen in baseball. Of course, we could watch a tiddily-winks contest or curling...nobody gets hurt there.

What's next? Gonna stop the runner from taking out the infielder on second base to avoid a double play?

Baseball viewership will continue to fall further into the toilet.

 

That is exactly what the 'pros' are asking as well....

I think I will stick to football - Australian Rules Football...