New Catcher Rules Won't Change Much

There has been much debate over the past week or so as to whether Major League Baseball should change the rule in regard to runners mowing down a catcher at the plate.

It all stems from last week's game between the San Francisco Giants and the Florida Marlins, where the Marlins' Scott Cousins ran over the Giants' star catcher Buster Posey.

In last week's Mets game on Fox, broadcaster Tim McCarver claimed he would never allow his son or grandson to become a catcher because of the risks associated with the position, collisions in particular.

Note to the world: Collisions happen anywhere on the field. Ask Ike Davis and David Wright. While you're at it, ask Carlos Beltran about his collision with Mike Cameron a few years ago in the outfield. Heck, go ahead and ask Jason Bay about colliding with the left field wall.


Collisions are a part of the game. Injuries are a part of the game.

Now, because a star player is hurt and out for the season, the rules should change?

Where was the uproar when Ray Fosse was run over by Pete Rose in the 1970 All-Star Game, or when Cleveland's Carlos Santana was run over last season?

Did I miss the cry for a rule change when base runners injured themselves colliding at home plate?

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said, "There are so many catchers that got hurt at home plate, missed a lot of time, shortened their careers or even ended their careers, and the way guys are coming in now, maybe we need to consider."

Yes, catching is brutal, but his comment on the way guys are running into home now? What is he watching? Prior to the Cousins-Posey collision, I couldn't tell you the last time I saw a runner even attempt to run over a catcher at the plate. It just doesn't happen very often.

Coaches can work with catchers to better position themselves at the plate, and teach runners to look for other paths to home other than running catchers over. MLB can even change the rule, banning collisions.

That won't solve anything. Players are still going to get injured. So, a player doesn't run a catcher over, and instead just uses a hard slide at the plate. That's going to eliminate injuries? No.

If you don't want to get run over, get out of the way. If you're that worried about getting hurt, find a new position.