COULD THE MLB COLLISION RULE BECOME A HORNET'S NEST?

The official MLB rule on home plate collisions came down the other day, and while many didn't see it, some did. If you didn't see it, it reads like this:

"A runner attempting to score may not deviate from his direct pathway to the plate in order to initiate contact with the catcher (or other player covering home plate).  If, in the judgment of the Umpire, a runner attempting to score initiates contact with the catcher (or other player covering home plate) in such a manner, the Umpire shall declare the runner out (even if the player covering home plate loses possession of the ball).

Unless the catcher is in possession of the ball, the catcher cannot block the pathway of the runner as he is attempting to score.  If, in the judgment of the Umpire, the catcher, without possession of the ball, blocks the pathway of the runner, the Umpire shall call or signal the runner safe."

And there is more:

"In determining whether a runner deviated from his pathway in order to initiate a collision, the Umpire will consider whether the runner made an effort to touch the plate, and whether he lowered his shoulders or pushed through with his hands, elbows or arms when veering toward the catcher.  The rule that will be in effect in 2014 does not mandate that the runner always slide or that the catcher can never block the plate.  However, runners who slide, and catchers who provide the runner with a lane to reach the plate, will never be found to be in violation of the new rule.  Beginning immediately, Clubs will be required to train their runners to slide and their catchers to provide the runner with a pathway to reach the plate at all levels in their organizations."

Now I understand the reasoning behind this.  Over the years, there have been pretty severe collisions at home plate.  No one wants a player getting hurt, but at the same time, fans want hard play. Fans don't want the balls stripped from the game.  It concerns me, but again, I understand concussions and injuries.  How though, can a player who has played the game hard every day all his life since he was a kid change his passion and style at the plate with this new rule? That's the only question I had about it.

Now, I read what Brian McCann had to say about it.  It was interesting. This is from the Star-Ledger. He said:  “I think it’s a step in the right direction... I think it’s that throw from right field where you’re in no-man’s land; you can’t see the runner. You don’t know if he’s going to slide or run you over. So, yeah, I think it cleans it up from that standpoint when you can’t see the runner.”

At first I was surprised.  McCann's a tough guy and I immediately thought "Well, he wants the grit of the game, like Munson, like Posada." Then I realized, McCann has had a concussion before.  So yeah, his comments make sense.

But there were others as well.

 And this reaction goes along the line with that I was saying. It's from AJ Pierzynski who told USA Today:

"I disagree with it. I understand why they're doing it, but next, they're going to tell us that you can't slide into the guy at second base. It's one of those things, as a big-league catcher, I signed up for it. You never want to see guys get hurt, and you never want to see guys go down because of it, but it's part of the game you signed up for. There are going to be plays at the plate, late in games, where you need to block the plate and try to keep that guy from scoring, saving save a run that ultimately gets your team into the playoffs.”

And that's my point.  Wow, I'm actually agreeing with Pierzynski, what's this world coming to?

Here's another from Buster Posey, who told ESPN :

"Just reading through it, the main thing it does is eliminate the malicious collision... If the catcher is not set up right on top of the plate, it doesn't allow the runner to run through him. For the most part, I think it'll stay pretty much the same... We've never been taught to set up right on top of the plate; we've always been taught to give the runner a little bit of the plate. [As a baserunner], my mindset, when I'm coming around third, is to slide hard and late."

OK, interesting and don't forget, Posey got seriously hurt from a collision a while back.

Now yes, it's not a ban, and that's good, especially for us fans that love the passion. And it's an experiment that will be reviewed after the 2014 season. Plus, home plate collisions have been going on a long, long time.  After all home is protected by the catcher and the runner wants it! When you put it like that, it's truly gritty and daring, but as long as it doesn't take away from the integrity of the game, and the others players are on board... let the game go on! 

This piece was nothing more than to explain 2 things... what some of the top catchers think about the ban, as well as to state here at Bleeding Yankee Blue that all we want, is for the game to stay as close to the same as possible, without stripping the balls from it.  It appears that it's OK, but interesting.  Again, when a catchers standing in, in a split second moment of the ball coming home, and the runner is attempting to get in there... what will happen? Not more shoulders... will the runner stop? tip toe? jump? Pull a Ichiro Suzuki? Many players are that nimble!

How will they alter their slide? What will happen?

We'll have to wait and see, won't we?

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