MLB Should Be Embarrassed
Overturned call at plate gives Phillies go-ahead run | MLB.com: News
Even at the 12U level, this is a joke. The runner began checking up halfway to the plate and was already looking for an excuse. Another example why people who want to cite MLB for case plays in softball should be smacked up alongside their head |
Agree.
This is a rule to reduce contact at home plate. If there is no contact, why invoke the rule? (rhetorical question) |
Isn't this what the "obstruction" rule is all about? From the runner's point of view........He's running to the plate, sees the catcher directly in front of him between him and the plate, thinks "How can I reach plate? I have to go around him." Starts that "before" the ball gets there, ball gets there and he's already committed himself to the "wide" approach to the plate. He's tagged out because he went wide.........because he's blocked. Ball got there after all this.
I agree 100% with call. It's the rule, live with it. |
Have seen this misinterpreted a bunch since the MLB decided to start enforcing it. Much along the lines of the "possession" issue that plagued so many games at the start of this season, and that any umpire worth his salt knew all along was being called wrong by the replay officials, until at last the "new" interpretation of the rule came out. I am sure we will soon see a "new" interpretation of the OBS rule.
However, that doesn't change all of the games whose outcomes were effected by the current interpretation of how the rule should be applied. If you ask me, this whole replay thing in baseball has been a travesty. |
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MLB, MLBPA Adopt Experimental Rule 7.13 On Home Plate Collisions | MLB.com: News |
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Rule 7.13 is titled "Collisions at Home Plate". I've seen the play now. It was far closer than I'd imagined. Howard could either truck the catcher or go around. I don't like it, but I have to admit that looks like the right rule application based on the way the rule is written. I still disagree with the call though. I have a different judgment call based on the part of the rule I have bolded, and Out #3. Quote:
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Howard was dead out and never should have been sent. The catcher's presence did not prevent Howard from scoring. I've never agreed with allowing the intentional collisions in baseball and often stated such, but that doesn't mean you change part of the game that circumvents the rules that really have nothing to do with the issue at hand. What are they going to do next, say a defender cannot be considered in possession of the ball unless he can successfully complete a transfer from the glove to the throwing hand? Oh, wait........ This is the standard, knee-jerk reaction that unnecessarily changes the game when, if there was any intelligence involved, a resolution was available just by looking at NCAA softball. |
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If I'm a MLB manager, I'm going to instruct my catcher to set up on the foul side of the plate and instruct the fielders to through to the RHBB. That means that just about every throw will alleviate the catcher's responsibility of allowing a path for the runner. You can stop the collisions without changing the game, but I don't think MLB has the courage to have the umpires start dumping players for intentional crashes. The only reason I reference NCAA is because they still allow for the ATR, which IMO, never needed to be changed in ASA or any other brand. |
So, why didn't Arizona just appeal Howard for missing home? What would've happened then?
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Even with ATR, I've got the "hinder" at :43-:44, ball past the mound and Howard more than half way. He slows down because he would have trucked the catcher had he kept running. If this play happens in this weekend's ASA game, I've got my left arm out. And we have to call this in ASA games, especially slow pitch. As to your positioning comment, if I am catching (and when I did catch or at any other base), I took the throw in front of the plate. That is a much better position and you cannot hinder a runner (nor will you get run over). Lastly, and to comment on your original statement, I'm not going to use this play or any MLB interpretation to justify and ASA/NFHS/NCAA/ISC/ISF version of obstruction (or any rule). Being hindered is being hindered. |
I don't like the new rule either.
But this is OBS in any softball code. Fielder in the path of the runner without the ball. Runner deviates from their chosen path. Textbook OBS. Only in ATR codes of baseball is this not OBS. |
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This really is simple. MLB doesn't want catchers setting up in the runner's path while they're waiting to receive the throw. The rule goes beyond just obstruction. They want a catcher to position himself such that the runner isn't enticed to bowl him over, such as in front of the plate. If the throw takes the catcher into the runner's path, that's a different situation and the catcher won't be penalized. But if he sets up there, as was the case in the Howard play, he's liable. The problem is that they've swung the pendulum too far the other way. When is it okay for the catcher to block access to the plate while waiting for the throw? When the runner is 20 feet from home? 30? Halfway? It seems to be getting farther and farther away with some of the replays I've seen. |
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