The Home Plate Collision Rule

It seems that more often than not, MLB's Home Plate Collision rule causes controversy throughout baseball.  To many people, whether it be those who have played the game in the past or who have watched the game their whole lives, the rule is characterized as being ridiculous and an insult to the traditional ways of the game.

It is completely understandable to try and protect players, especially catchers who are at a risk of being taken out by players trying to score, but the confusion the rule has caused doesn't do the players any good either.  Instead of having a play be instinct, you now have a player trying to score, but is unsure of when he can slide into the catcher, whereas before, you didn't have the hesitation of players deciding whether they could slide into the catcher or not.

There is also an inconsistency in the decisions made based on this rule.  For example, a game occurred earlier today (8.13.14) between the Chicago White Sox and San Francisco Giants in which Gregor Blanco came home on a ground out to first by Joe Panik and was called out at the plate. Bruce Bochy, SF Giants manager, went out to argue the call. The umpires contacted New York for their ruling on the play, and the call came back that the runner was safe according to the rule. Chicago White Sox manager, Robin Ventura, argued the overturned call and was ejected from the game. This call led to a very big inning for the Giants in which they scored 7 runs in a game where the White Sox led 1-0 till this point in the game. Watch the play that occurred during this game here via MLB.com.

Similar to this play and only a few hours later, the New York Mets and Washington Nationals were faced with a similar call. Matt den Dekker ran home from third base on a groundout to shortstop by Wilmer Flores, but was called out at the plate by the home plate umpire. The Nationals catcher was in similar positioning to the catcher on the White Sox. However, after Terry Collins, NY Mets manager, went out to argue, the call was upheld after review and the runner remained out at the plate. Matt den Dekker was the tying run in a 3-2 game led by the Nationals, and if he was called safe, the game most likely would have gone to extras if the Mets didn't score another run that inning. You can watch the play that occurred in this matchup here via MLB.com.

According to the rule, both runners should have been safe based on the positioning of the catchers before they received the ball. However, the rule is confusing to both the players and umpires on the field. In some cases, the call even proves to be costly to one of the teams.

There have been many incidences in the past in which a similar play at the plate has gotten two different calls, but this was only one example which occurred tonight. These players go out on the field and work hard every single day to remain in the major leagues and in order to reduce the controversy of what breaks the rule and what does not, and for them to play the game how they have been taught for so many years, the rule must either be altered or explained so that they have a better understanding of it.

The rule states that a runner is allowed to take out the catcher in the situation where he has the ball in his glove, but this seems to be misunderstood by players on the field. MLB has said that they will take a look at the rule in the offseason, but what if a play like this occurs during the World Series and is a game changer?

Maybe the solution is to look into better protection for catchers, but ultimately, catchers are going to continue to get concussions even if they haven't been hit into by oncoming base runners, whether it be due to someones follow through when they swing, a foul tip that hits off the mask, or any contact they may be faced with.

In any situation, if the runner is tagged out at the plate he should remain to be out, but the rule has brought something different to the play and if the rule exists, it should be followed.