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Originally Posted by ctblu40
Because these "checks" are interpreted by the umpires as legitimate attempts to reach the plate. If the umpire judges that the runners sole purpose is to dislodge the ball... then int would be called.
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It's not called because it's great theater! The fans love it. It makes for great highlights. It's never going to go away or be banned from MLB because it is engrained in the culture of the game. It is allowed and everybody knows it.
If the catcher is blocking the plate (which they always are to some degree), then it's open season on the catcher. I'm not even so sure that the catcher has to be blocking the plate. It's simply not called and that's the way it is.
For the same reason, you'll never see anything like the Force Play Slide Rule in MLB. Again - it's great theater! We
like watching the middle infielder have to do acrobatics to avoid getting his clock cleaned by the runner. We
like it when the middle infielder disregards the R1 and throws the ball right for his head.
Have you ever wondered why there are not harsher penalties for fighting in hockey?
Same reason!
The fans
love it.
That won't be going away any time soon, either.
David Emerling
Memphis, TN