First of all, that picture is a little bit deceiving, mainly because the arrows stretch the truth. Cousins impacted Posey with his left shoulder, but you never would have guessed that from the image. Cousins' upper body was directed up the line a bit to make the collision, but his lower body was in position. Even if baseline rules were in place and strictly enforced, I suspect that Cousins would have been called safe 100% of the time. Also, in that picture Posey is covering enough of the plate to warrant a collision over a slide, which is especially true since the throw arrived earlier. Cousins did nothing out of the ordinary or anything to suggest he's at fault.

 

Not to mention that baseline rules always give at least 2-3 feet in either direction. It's not practical to eliminate that wiggle room, because it will make calls much more difficult to make. Cousins is certainly within that range here.

 

You are also forgetting that players will often slide 2-3 feet out of the baseline in order to avoid a collision. What you are suggesting really just doesn't sound feasible.

I don't understand what Wigginton did wrong, he blocked the base better so he could apply the tag.

 

 

Not suggesting Wiggy did anything wrong, if the 3B here is blocking the plate like catchers block home plate, should a baserunner be able to steamroll the 3rd baseman too? And maybe he can but we just don't ever see it because that hasn't become the fun espn highlight play that the collision at the plate has.

Baseball was played that way before tv highlights. So suggesting its done for good tv is dumb.

 

that was a little exaggeration in response to the "but it's exciting" arguments, which i'm pretty sure you got, but thanks for the insight.

I think most people here are forgetting that the reason many basemen aren't run over is just because its really not smart to. At home plate, once you touch the plate you don't have to worry about anything. At third base, if you run over the third basemen, you're probably going to come off the bag, in which case even if he does drop the ball, he can pick it back up and tag you out.

 

At this point, I wouldn't be against their being potential fines and things like that for instances where trucking the catcher really is unnecessary. I wouldn't throw Cousins hit into that category, but I probably would the Hayes hit, looking at the replay. Those of you saying "the catcher doesn't have to block the plate" are ignoring the fact that even when the catcher is not blocking the plate at all, its pretty much giving whatever mad man who is the runner an open license to bowl over the catcher, just because their is no system in place to punish those who do so in unnecessary situations. If you look at the Nyjer hit, he didn't even make contact with Hayes until after he had touched the plate with his foot, which is completely ridiculous.

 

 

good post.

 

 

BP article... writer suggests (among other ideas) one way is simply to return to the very old rule of if you're off a base and tagged, you're out. Whether the ball gets dislodged or not.

http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/grumblings_from_a_surly_sabermetrician_scott_cousins_is_a_dirty_dirty_ballplayer_by_clay_davenport/4805517

Leaving it to the catchers is the most sensible solution compared to all of these idiotic rule change suggestions. All Bochy needs to do is to instruct Posey to set up differently for those plays and that will eliminate a substantial portion of the risks. Unfortunately when boo-boos occur, sometimes people overlook the simple solutions.

 

Speaking of this "cover the world in bubble wrap" mentality, I fully expect the backstop netting in ballparks to be extending over the dugouts within 10-15 years.

http://sports.espn.g...dlines#bXpulseX

 

Just read that. I guess Cousins could've slid in("the option" that Buster gave him?), but he figured he was dead to rights(as did I) and that his only chance was to try to knock the ball loose. If Cousins had gotten there a quarter second later, he probably would've saw the catch be mishandled and probably would've taken a different route.

 

 

 

If they institute rule changes because of this, it'll be like the assinineness that went on on the NFL last season with the late hit rules.

I've changed my mind about this. I don't think a runner should be allowed to truck a defensive player for the sole purpose of knocking the ball loose. However, if the defensive player is blocking access to the bag then he's fair game.

Maybe Matheny's still shaken up by his concussion. Maybe he should become a catcher safety activist and take his cause to a global level.

Mark Grace is fine with Cousins' slide. :thumbup

Our very own Johnny Bake had a great article on this for Yahoo's Big League Stew:

 

http://t.co/rPW6ksI

Mans game. Let it fly

Our very own Johnny Bake had a great article on this for Yahoo's Big League Stew:

 

http://t.co/rPW6ksI

 

 

The other side argues that the rule is fine as it is, and that contact is a part of the game. It is part of the game, but so were spitballs, hitters without helmets, segregation, head-hunting pitchers, steroids, amphetamines, outfield fences without padding, taller mounds and train rides on road trips. In other words, things can change for the better and the game can get safer.

 

We need to compromise, but I don't have the perfect answer. As someone who has been run over, I can say that it sucks. In Buster Posey's case it is devastating. I really do feel for him and his teammates (I also know a little something about getting hurt).

 

The best proposal I have heard is this: If the runner is forced to slide, then the catcher cannot be allowed to block the plate (like the collegiate rule). Because throws aren't always on line, contact still will happen, but I can't disagree that everyone would be safer.

 

Where else in sports can you get a 90-foot head start and run full speed into a grossly under-padded target looking in a different direction? Not the NFL, NHL, NBA, or even the fighting sports. In mixed martial arts and boxing, both combatants understand the rules. Buster Posey never even had a chance to "protect himself at all times."

 

It is unfortunate that this happened to him. Hopefully a change will be made soon and plays like this will be a thing of the past. It is sad that it takes an ugly injury to force change, but baseball has always been very stubborn, more reactive than proactive, always relying on its stars for guidance.

 

He said it better than I did.

part of the game,,,,why dont we leave the BP cage up so the pitcher cant be hit by a comebacker......posey was terrible but it happens

part of the game,,,,why dont we leave the BP cage up so the pitcher cant be hit by a comebacker......posey was terrible but it happens

 

What you mean is the L-screen in front of the mound. The cage alone would A) disallow most foul balls and B) be a hindrance to runners trying to score.

I know you weren't serious but come on.

The guy consistently can't tell the difference between "." and "," What do you expect?