Reds/Pirates Catcher Obstruction (7.13)

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by Manny A

All that said, I think the new rule tips the balance too much in favor of the offense. On plays where the catcher straddles home plate and gives the runner access to slide in, and the runner is easily thrown out, then there shouldn't be a violation. It should only be a violation if the catcher sets up further up the line, which would motivate the runner into crashing the catcher. And on force plays at home, there shouldn't be any reason to penalize the catcher for being on the plate.

Originally Posted by Paul L

But if the catcher on a force play is blocking the runner's pathway as he is attempting to score, the risk of collision is still present. On a force play where the runner can overrun the base, like at first or home, the runner does not want to slide, since that is slightly slower to the base than overrunning it. So the risk of collision on a force play when the catcher blocks the runner's pathway perhaps is even greater than on a tag play where sliding or avoiding is used. The catcher just needs a toe on the base/plate and a glove well away from the runner's pathway. Absent a bad throw, there's no reason to block the runner's entire pathway.

And yet...

MLB adjusts rule on home plate collisions after controversy - ESPN