Busted

This week, Giant catcher Buster Posey attempted what most catchers do on instinct.

Block the plate. Cost him the 2011 season, it would seem.

This photo is of a young Ray Fosse, in a game against the Red Sox, doing what he was trained for, hanging in to make the out.

Infielders are trained the same way, get the ball and make the tag, or hang in there on a force out.



Some this week, in light of the Posey injury are calling to ban the play, to ask catchers to simply allow the runner free passage to home plate. What will they tell shortstops, and second basemen to do when runners barrelling in to break up double plays ? Step aside lads, give the runner the base.
I am not going to be surprised if this idea dies out of natural apathy, laughter and derision, because it is just stupid to expect catchers, and other infielders to give up on a play, they are not built that way.

Can you imagine Ty Cobb then, "aw c'mon, where's the challenge", he would have thought his opponents were cowards, and called them so for abandoning their posts.

Ray was forever tied to the 1970 All Star Game, as the winning run was scored by Peter Rose by bowling over, shoulder first, just like he was taught into Fosse. Fosse never had a good offensive year after the collision, but never did anyone whine about taking the "bang bang" play out the game. This was an All Star Game, no a playoff game, not even the key game against a key opponent.

But they played the game this way, because it's in their DNA.

Posey was the victim of a baserunner who knew his chance to score was based on Posey not holding onto the ball, and took a route to collide with Posey. Should he be called out, as runners are between 1st and 2nd ? Perhaps, but I agree with Mike Sciosia, and I disagree with Tim McCarver, who would not only negate the run, and make the runner out, but suspend runners who target vulnerable catchers who must absorb the full weight of the play.

He didn't care for McCarver's proposed rule change.

Buster busted

"Scioscia told me he didn't like it," McCarver said. "He said the reason he didn’t like it was that (blocking the plate) was the last vestige of courage the game has.  But sports is going this route, protect the QB rule, head shots in hockey, concussion syndromes, and baseball is the latest, a "time out" rule on concussions, and now this.


 I am all in to maintain safety, but Justin Morneau did not collide with a Blue Jay catcher, he collided with 2nd baseman Johnny Mac, and has still not returned to form. So can we ban sliding to breakup double plays ?

 I don't want to see the rules changed because Posey was injured, injuries are still rare, and catchers won't want that aspect taken from them, they just hope the throw is well ahead of impact, then they have an opportunity to prepare