Not long after the idea gained some real traction, it appears Major League Baseball is following through: According to ESPN's Buster Olney, the league will ban home plate collisions no later than by 2015, and as early as this coming season. That means no blocking the plate by catchers, no targeting catchers by runners and disciplinary action for anyone who violates these new rules. What do you think?
Here's a sampling of what readers had to say in our Facebook conversation on the story:
- Russ Ross: "I have to say, sports are becoming less fun because of stuff like this. Collisions at home plate for 150 years. They've never been a problem. They're a great part of the game. Same thing with the NFL. Injuries happen. That's sports. These leagues are ruining sports and it's turning people off. I think it's a joke."
- Hunter Fitch: "I'm sick and tired of hearing about the 2 or 3 players every week that have season ending injuries in the NFL. I'm glad they are doing this for baseball to protect all the players and the teams that have major financial investments in those players. If you think it "wussifies" the game grab your club and go to your cave."
- Brian Sandell: "why not just have a box catch the pitches? Catchers are protected with their equipment, the injuries over the past few years have been freak incidents. If it was a backup catcher and not [Buster] Posey this whole issue never would've happened."
- Neil Curran: "Running into the catcher has been banned from most levels of baseball for a long time. This isn't some sudden knee jerk reaction based on a couple recent injuries. It's not a baseball play. Most managers/players will support this change."
- Genesis Rosal: "At the end of the year everyone will get a participation trophy...."
- Kirk Morgan: "I think it is about time. You can't block any other bases, why should you be able to block home? I'm sure Ray Fosse would have liked this rule."
What do you think? Leave your comments below.
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