Not the balls and strikes of baseball or the suits and ties of baseball executives but the power of the law suit has caused baseballs executive to strike out against the legal sharks in the water (who also happen to wear suits).Football has done it, hockey is soon to follow, but baseball looked at the issue of the home plate collision and concussions years ago, and determined that it was simply a part of the game. Until today. Today, baseball took it on the chin and decided it was time to change their tune.
Today baseball has banned catcher's from blocking the plate and base runners from targeting catcher's and they have given umpire's the power to review these plays to determine and penalize whomever violates them. This is a brilliant idea. These guys play 162 game regular seasons. It just doesn't make sense that they need to take the risk of losing valuable base runners or vital catchers to teams and to the league. In a 162 game season what is the value of one game?
One game?
In October of 2007 the Rockies took on the Padres in one game. One game that would decide the final entrant into the MLB playoffs. The game lingered on, into the 13th inning as a matter of fact.
Tied 8-8, Jamey Carroll smacks a ball into the outfield that offered a chance for Matt Holiday to beat a throw to the plate and win the game for his team.
If that game were to happen next season both catcher Michael Barrett and Matt Holiday would be in violation of the rules. One blocked the plate and the other targeted the catcher. Why?
One game in baseball became a 14 of 15 game win streak that found the Rockies dead in the water and then floating on water and heading off to play for a world series title in the end. They lost to the Red Sox as Matt Holiday took to the batters box with a big band-aid on his chin. He truly took one on the chin and I promise you, he would do it again for a chance to lose the World Series. What are they gonna call next year, off-setting penalties.
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