The Blocking The Plate "Issue"

[Warner2BruceTD]

I thought I was tuning in tonight to watch the Braves host the Reds, but what i'm getting instead is a 3 hour discussion on Buster Posey and the supposed contraversy surrounding home plate collisions.

Of course, as I said in another thread, if this had been Ryan Hanigan or David Ross or Corkey Miller or Josh Thole or some other non descript backup C who was injured on the Posey play, we wouldnt have heard a word all week about the need for a rule to protect the catchers.

This entire situation is just another example of ESPN blowing a story way out of proportion, all to conjure up a few weeks worth of talking points for their midday lineup of shitty fake argument shows. MLB Network has largely dropped the topic, same for SI.com, same for FOX Sports Radio, etc etc.

And now we have word Posey and his agent are calling for a rule change. What rule "change"? There is no rule to change. Apparently, they want a rule added, and I assume they want a rule that prevents runners from plowing into catchers.

But much like this entire "debate", all of that talk is quite ridiculous. Someone should tell Posey that there is already a risk/reward system in place that prevents runners from plowing catchers at home plate.

GET THE FUCK OUT OF THE WAY

The runner is entitled to the plate. If you CHOOSE to block it, deal with the consequence.

Its time for Buster Posey and ESPN to STFU.

[killgod]

I concur.

[Primetime]

Patiently awaiting BigBucs, ShaynDaPain, and Blick's responses...

[Leftwich]

There's only one man who can make ESPN change their coverage of Poseymania 2011.

 

[Guest]

There is no issue. It was a clean play that could have happened to any player at any time.

The only way to avoid it? Not have a valuable bat at catcher and put them elsewhere. I said it before but Ivan Rodriguez didn't become one of the best defensive catchers by riding the bench because the game was too violent. Rodriguez actually played a good portion of games throughout his career and did not have a play like this.

Catchers honestly have the same chance of this happening as throwing their arm out on a throw and being sidelined for a year with surgery. So when that happens to, say, Brian McCann, are we going to eliminate the stolen base? That is about what it boils down to

[NAHSTE]

Good points. A larger issue is that ESPN constantly turns live game broadcasts into these town hall meetings on the hot button issue of the moment.

Just STFU and call the game.

But agree completely. I remember when former Nebraska punter Daren Erstad ran over Johnny Estrada and gave him a concussion. Estrada missed two months, and the Braves threw at Erstad the next day (and missed, hilariously) and that was that. Nobody cried for that porky piece of shit, so don't expect me to cry for Buster Posey. I don't care how good of a player he's perceived to be.

[mcstl25]

Couldn't agree more, W2B. I've been telling people this all week. The only rule I wouldn't mind seeing added is if a catcher is clearly not blocking the plate and the base runner chooses to go out of his way to run over the catcher, the base runner should be punished. However, in my experience this doesn't happen very often.

[Blick]

Patiently awaiting BigBucs, ShaynDaPain, and Blick's responses...

Since you have been such a patient little guy for almost 24 hours, I have decided to share my response....

I agree with Warner in this case, dipshit.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Brian Sabian is an asshole.

[nflman2033]

Fucking a right, I am sick of this shit, its been on sports radio as well. People want to change rules to protect "defenseless catchers" #1 they are the ones blocking the plate its there choice to be in that position #2 who has all the padding? One guy likened it to hitting a wr over the middle in football, the only way that analogy works is if the wr was the only one in pads. Total joke this is as if the sport can afford to talke away one of its most exciting plays. Let's outlaw inside the park homeruns and triple plays while we are at it.

[Goober]

So should we change the rules so a baserunner can't slide into second base to break up a double play too?

[Senser81]

Is it Buster Posey or Buster Olney?

I am amazed that when ESPN has these self-fabricated "hot button issues", a vast majority of the ESPN schmucks agree with the most idiotic of the points-of-view.

[Tailback U]

Brian Sabian is an asshole.

I'm assuming most of you have heard his comments by now.

I have nothing against Cousins or the play, but I see Sabian's point in that it wasn't necessary.

Cousins had a lane to the plate, Posey wasn't blocking it, he didn't even have the ball.

Cousins also put his right shoulder into Posey's right shoulder. Again, Posey wasn't completely blocking the plate, Cousins had a lane, but he didn't care about going for the plate at all. He made the decision to truck Posey all the way.

I don't want a rule change or anything like that but I feel like there's something wrong with a play that allows the base runner to disregard the base completely and encourage him to knock the shit out of the catcher as hard as he possibly can.

[spiker]

I just rewatched the injury. Cousins made the right play. Posey was standing over the plate and Cousins was trying to separate the ball from the catcher in a close play. It's not like posey was 5 feet up the line and Cousins was seeking him out. When you have a split second to make the decision, separating the ball from the catcher gives you the best possibility of scoring. It was aggressive but justified. Injuries happen in sports. If you don't want to get hurt, don't play.

[moneyman255]

I'm assuming most of you have heard his comments by now.

I have nothing against Cousins or the play, but I see Sabian's point in that it wasn't necessary.

Cousins had a lane to the plate, Posey wasn't blocking it, he didn't even have the ball.

Cousins also put his right shoulder into Posey's right shoulder. Again, Posey wasn't completely blocking the plate, Cousins had a lane, but he didn't care about going for the plate at all. He made the decision to truck Posey all the way.

I don't want a rule change or anything like that but I feel like there's something wrong with a play that allows the base runner to disregard the base completely and encourage him to knock the shit out of the catcher as hard as he possibly can.

Have you ever played baseball before? Just curious. As a runner when you are rounding 3rd you have a split-second decision to make. You ask yourself: Do I have a better chance at being safe if I try and slide around the plate, or should I try and knock the ball out of the glove? Cousins chose to try and knock the ball out of the glove because if Posey catches the ball he is an easy out at home plate. The problem with this play is that Posey dropped the ball, but at that time Cousins was nearing Posey already.

If Posey catches the ball, Cousins is an easy out. Obviously we know that he dropped the ball and made this play look a lot worse than it actually was.

We can go through all the slow motions of a replay and say that he had a lane to go in etc, but base-runners obviously can't stop the play and look for the best option. They have to make a split-second decision and go for it.

It was a perfectly clean play.