Eliminating Collisions at the Plate Will Be Good for Baseball

Removing the collision at home plate, takes a tactic away from base runners with the intention of making the game safer, but it does not change the overall dynamic or balance of the game. In this respect, these rule changes are different than the changes over the decades that have been implemented to keep batters safer from pitched balls. The required use of batting helmets, increased use of body armor and system of quicker warnings for pitchers who rely throw brushback pitches, has created an advantage for hitters that did not exist 60 years ago. Regardless of whether or not one supports throwing inside, it is hard to deny that for many years it was a legitimate part of the game, and of the game's strategy.

Why the Giants Should Keep Posey Behind the Plate

Posey is now out for the rest of the season. It will be a good scenario for Posey and the Giants if he is fully recovered in time for spring training 2012. The Posey injury, because of both how it occurred, due to a collision at home plate, and because it happened to Posey, one of baseball’s best and most marketable young players, has drawn a lot of attention. Two major themes have emerged from this attention: whether or not baseball should change its rules to minimize the chances of collisions at home plate and young players of Posey’s caliber should be moved away from the catcher’s position to allow them to play longer.

 

Remembering Pete Rose the Player

Whenever Rose’s name comes up, it is usually in the context of discussing the ban.  Meanwhile memories of Rose the player have begun to fade.  Rose was not only a great player, and in many respects the iconic player of his generation, but a very unusual one.  No player in history has had a career quite like Rose’s.  As a player, Rose is now primarily remembered for being baseball’s all time hit leader, but even that only tells part of the story.