Should the MLB Ban Collisions at Home Plate? - jmik58's Blog

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jmik58's Blog

Should the MLB Ban Collisions at Home Plate? Stuck

Posted on August 29, 2012 at 01:16 PM.

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Baseball is a game heavy on unwritten rules, but one of them may need some attention before a player is seriously injured -- or worse.

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina became the latest casualty of the MLB's most dangerous live-action aspect this side of a 100-MPH pitch to the temple. In the bottom of the second inning in last night's contest against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Molina received a throw from outfielder Carlos Beltran to nab Josh Harrison at the plate for the final out.

Unfortunately for Molina and the Cardinals, Harrison's momentum caught one of the game's best backstops off-guard and square in the head, neck and shoulder. Watching the game live, there was no way Molina should have maintained consciousness throughout the blow, let alone the ball -- he somehow did both.

It's a well-known fact that hitters should never stop on the mound when crossing back to the dugout after an out at first base -- just one of the many unwritten rules of baseball. It was also expected that Harrison would get plunked by Cardinals pitcher Jake Westbrook later in the game -- and he did. Not because Harrison's collision with Molina was a dirty play, but simply because that's just the way it is in baseball.

The "good ol' days" have been an excuse for many things that have held back baseball from matching the progressive nature of other major sports like that of the NFL. Replay expansion has been a slow and laborious process in baseball -- a sport seemingly run by purists.

But that same attitude is one of the major reasons the NFL finds itself in a world of hurt as the concussion lawsuits are flying in and the MLB may be next.

Last year it was Buster Posey's ankle disconnecting from nearly every possible spot, now Molina has a banged-up neck, shoulder, probably back, and who knows what else -- don't be surprised if he suffered some form of concussion. Perhaps it's time Major League Baseball took a step to fix a rule before major litigation strikes -- before someone gets seriously hurt.

The game's brightest stars at catcher are putting their careers and well-being on the line to make sure runners aren't safe at home. Collisions at home aren't necessary and they aren't good for the game. It's time for baseball to throw the old ways out so human beings can remain safe.

Sound Off: Do home-plate collisions belong in baseball? What about other unwritten rules of the game?

Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. Follow him on Twitter @long_snapper.

Comments

# 16 Jazzman1522 @ Aug 30

I think are society has become one of knee-jerk reactions. Two injuries in two years, and suddenly we want to talk about changing the rules. It didn't help that Buster Posey was such a high-profile, well liked player. But this happens all the time in baseball. Two injuries in two years is not a cause for concern. Stuff happens, players get injured. I don't think it's rule-changing time quite yet.

# 17 nolan273 @ Sep 2

Maybe MLB should also ban crashing into the wall while trying to make a catch, too... And foul balls that might hit a fan. And just to take that extra step toward player safety, maybe wiffle balls would be better than those nasty old baseballs. Look, I'm not a huge baseball fan, but we can't get all skittish every time someone gets hurt on the diamond. Catchers block the plate, sometimes they get smashed, sometimes they get hurt. It's part of the game.