Somehow this isn’t considered blocking the plate.
There seem to be different interpretations of rule 7.13 every day. Friday in Chicago, Orioles manager Buck Showalter became the latest person in baseball to be confused by the new home plate collision rule.
Buck: "If that's not blocking the plate I don't know what is. I'm totally confused now." #orioles
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) August 22, 2014
With runners on first and second, Caleb Joseph hit a blooper to right field. Cubs outfielder Ryan Sweeney scooped it up and fired home to catcher John Baker who tagged out Chris Davis coming home. It appeared that Davis had to step around Baker while attempting to score.
For a bit of clarification, here’s how 7.13 reads in the rule book:
A runner attempting to score may not deviate from his direct pathway to the plate in order to initiate contact with the catcher (or other player covering home plate). If, in the judgment of the Umpire, a runner attempting to score initiates contact with the catcher (or other player covering home plate) in such a manner, the Umpire shall declare the runner out (even if the player covering home plate loses possession of the ball).
Now, let’s watch again.
As I take off my orange tinted sun glasses to watch that GIF, I notice Davis’ right leg take a final step to the right while running home in an effort to avoid Baker’s out stretched left leg. That sure looks like deviating his direct pathway to the plate, right?
In the end, the O’s fell 4-1 anyway as old friend Jake Arrieta out dueled Kevin Gausman. But how that call wasn’t overturned is a bit confusing to me.
Its a total bullshit call. Look, just make the play at the plate a force out and be done with it. No need to tag, just have the catcher play the plate like a first baseman.
So you’re upset because you didn’t get a cheating rule enforced for your team, that would have unfairly cost the Cubs an out/a run despite their having beaten the runner to the plate by a mile? F you.
Oh, paulwt3, I over estimated when I said you were 17. A “cheating rule enforced by your team” WTF does that even mean?
Look, go back to your bros at the skate park and leave the sports talk to grown ups.
chow no like pile you PAULWT3 but you assface. chow see you fol what you bee PAULWT3. a big face paintel. go munch on sushi cause you law fish.
paulwt3, before you wrote that were you blowing shit up your nose all day? You enjoy those nights where you can slip into your pajama’s, put your feet up, have a little smack, maybe some Boones Farm, some Fritos, watch some Honey Boo Boo, comment on the BSR and get a big bowl of the Bolivean Marching Powder, cut it with some Ridalin, and just slam your damn face into it, don’t you assclown?