Runner Knocks Ball From Catcher

[greymule]

Now someone is going to argue the word "crash".

Right. If they means "bumps," "runs into," "contacts," or something similar, they should say so. However, it is true that umpires have their own various concepts of what constitutes a "crash," and that's one reason this play causes so many problems. I've had players run through a tag, avoiding contact with the body but hitting the outstretched glove, and when they knock the ball out everyone is screaming for a violation. I've had 10 guys in my face because a hard-charging runner stayed up when scoring, even though the ball was at the backstop and no contact at all was made with the catcher. Four guys suspended for 2 weeks.

I like to keep in mind the origin of ASA's rule, back around 1980. They wanted to avoid the obligatory MLB-type crash at home when the catcher had the ball and was waiting for the tag. Maybe things have evolved, but they were not trying to preclude all physical contact.

To me, a bump is not a crash, though I do want to see some attempt to avoid.