[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by tommyleo

See here.

I'm all for this rule change. The catcher has an unfair advantage: shin guards and other protection. No other fielder attempts to block a base due to the fact that taking a hard SPIKED slide can cause serious injury. But catchers use their shin guards (and chest protector and even mask/helmet) to block the plate -- something they would not attempt without all that gear.

Obviously! Have you ever seen F1 covering for F2 block the plate?

Originally Posted by tommyleo

And when the catchers block the plate, the runners realize that sliding will be a near certain out since they can't even reach the plate. So the runners collide and it looks cool -- except when injuries occur.

Sigh! It's up to the runner to slide and crash or give up and no, it dosen't look cool. You sound like the guy who goes to a NASCAR race to see the big crash.

Originally Posted by tommyleo

Enough already. Many other baseball leagues have outlawed these collisions long ago. Make the catcher field tag plays the way tag plays are made at the bases: catch the ball and tag the runner.

Yes AMATEUR leagues have banned it, HS & NCAA don't want it but we are talking about professionals, here. They are paid to do what it takes. Also, you suggested rule change would so nothing to stop the collisions.

BTW, consider a runner attempting to steal second base who decided to plow through the shortstop rather than sliding. That would be considered a very dirty play. But when a runner plows through a catcher, it's considered a "clean play."[/QUOTE]
There is no comparison with F4 or F6 at 2nd base and a fully dressed F2 getting clocked. F2 is wearing protective gear (for the most part) and F4 or F6 have nothing. That is why the neighborhood play was an accepted method of making the out at 2nd base.

Look, no one wants to see injuries, as in the Pete Rose/Ray Fosse incident (which was totally uncalled for), but it is the job of F2 to place himself between the runner and the plate and take his lumps. I ran through many catchers in my time and the professionals put themselves in proper position to put all the gear toward me as I came in. Sometimes, I think I was the one taking the lumps, considering all the black & blues I had. As a former player, I can assure you that 99% of the collisions are simply the runner trying to get to the plate and F2 trying to keep him from doing so. The situations where there was solid intent of hurting the opposition are far very few between.

Don't get me wrong, in amateur ball, I do not want to see the same collisions as in pro ball. If I see a runner coming at a catcher as I did in pro ball, I'll eject that runner in a minute.