Break Up The Double Play Not The Player
I’ve updated this post as a result of a nasty by Chase Utley that amounted to a body block into Ruben Tejada during the NLDS and breaking Tejada’s leg. Somehow players and many fans think that’s okay.
Some said Tejada should not have turned his back on the runner because he knew the runner was going to plow into him like a pile driver. Really? Is that what we want? Baseball player making contact with the intent of hitting a player so hard he’s unable to play? I though that was football. Even in football you can’t take a player out at the knees from behind because it causes serious injury and they wear pads head to toe.
Such slides aren’t macho or manly. It violates the intent and should once again violate of the rules of the game. I say once again because prior to this season MLB removed the rule I previously quoted here; 6.05m. That rule specifically made slides like the one on Kang and and tonight’s slide on Tejada illegal. The question is why do that?
== Original post with edits follows
On the 17th of September Chris Coghlan’s slide resulted in a broken leg and torn knee ligament for Jung Ho Kang, ending his season and damaging the Pirates post season chances. The slide was legal only because of the acceptance of the take-out slide and the neighborhood play. Looking closely at the rules however, we find that neither should be considered acceptable or legal.
Before I go farther let me clarify that I do not think Coghlan or any player mentioned below are dirty players who on a regular basis seek to injure anyone. These are by no means the only incidents or only players who’ve been involved, just a few I’ve chosen as examples.
The type of Play In question
Most fans know we are talking about a play variously called the neighborhood play or vicinity play where a runner attempts to break-up and thus prevent a middle infielder from completing a double play. The video below shows an egregious example that actually ends up with a correct call.
Kudos to the umpires for getting it right but why did it require the manager to go complain and a meeting of the entire crew to do so?
A little history
Most of you know I’m old. The first baseball game I remember watching was Don Larsen’s perfecto in the 56 World Series. My dad was a baseball guy and while we could never afford the trip to a major league game, we watched every televised game possible from about 1958 through 1968.
I recall hard slides into the base that the shortstop had to jump to avoid but I don’t recall ever seeing a player slide at a middle infielder who was six feet away from the base rather than at the base. It could have happened but if it had the sliding player would certainly have found a fastball tucked delicately into his ribs his next plate appearance. That was the way the game was played.
Next: Give them an inch and they'll take you out at the knees?
Jul 20, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop
Hanley Ramirez(13) leaps over St. Louis Cardinals left fielder
Matt Holliday(7) as he completes the double play during the fourth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Give them an inch
For the next 20 years or so I was overseas and sometime during that period the neighborhood play became a thing. Shortstops decided they didn’t like simply using the base for protection and jumping over a sliding player so they developed a method of coming across behind the bag, tagging (or appearing to tag) it with his toe and being out of range of the runner as he slid.
That of course made it hard for the umpire to determine whether the tag and catch actually happened simultaneously and became known as the phantom tag.
This infamous phantom tag was called correctly, probably because the shortstop did it flat-footed and never attempted to touch the bag with his toe at any point.
The player, manager and announcers were astounded – nay horrified – that the middle infielder actually had to touch the bag to record a force out. That kind of call, though correct, is rare. Thus the double play became a game of action and reaction.
- Middle infielders continued to stretch the limits of the phantom tag
- Base runners began to overtly slide towards the middle infielder while in theory reaching for the base. Someone determined that as long as he could reach for and touch the base this was okay.
- Middle infielders moved farther away from the bag.
- Runners continued to slide at the infielders no matter how far away they were.
- Umpires continued to make the wrong call
- Wash, rinse repeat. . .
Next: Rules are rules only when enforced
Aug 3, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Toronto Blue Jays shortstop
Jose Reyes(7) is tagged out and is injured while sliding into Houston Astros shortstop
Marwin Gonzalez(9) during the first inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The Rules
I heard a discussion on XM Radio’s inside pitch after the Coghlan slide put Kang in the hospital. The gist of it was that such things are part of the game. Jim Bowden said he didn’t want the rules changed; it was the way players were taught to slide into second.
Casey Stern bemoaned – rightly – the horrible implementation of the recent rule change about blocking the plate. Both men miss the point.
This is not a rule change. Here are the perfectly and unambiguously clearly applicable existing rules that apply. I’ve added emphasis to portions of the rules.
Rule 2.00
INTERFERENCE (a) Offensive interference is an act by the team at bat which interferes with, obstructs, impedes, hinders or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play. If the umpire declares the batter, batter-runner, or a runner out for interference, all other runners shall return to the last base that was in the judgment of the umpire, legally touched at the time of the interference, unless otherwise provided by these rules.
Rule 6.05
Updated. Rule 5.09 replaced the rule I used predominantly in the origina post 6.05m.
5.09 Making an Out (a) (6.05) Retiring the Batter A batter is out when: (13) A preceding runner shall, in the umpire’s judgment, intentionally interfere with a fielder who is attempting to catch a thrown ball or to throw a ball in an attempt to complete any play; Rule 5.09(a)(13) Comment (Rule 6.05(m) Comment): The objective of this rule is to penalize the offensive team for deliberate, unwarranted, unsportsmanlike action by the runner in leaving the baseline for the obvious purpose of crashing the pivot man on a double play, rather than trying to reach the base. Obviously this is an umpire’s judgment play
The new rule isn’t ambiguous, doing anything outside of the baseline for the purpose of crashing into the pivot man violates the rule
Rule 7.09 cited above was replaced with Rule 6.01
6.00–IMPROPER PLAY, ILLEGAL ACTION, AND MISCONDUCT 6.01 Interference, Obstruction, and Catcher Collisions (a)(7.09) Batter or Runner Interference It is interference by a batter or a runner when: (5) Any batter or runner who has just been put out, or any runner who has just scored, hinders or impedes any following play being made on a runner. Such runner shall be declared out for the interference of his teammate; (6) If, in the judgment of the umpire, a base runner willfully and deliberately interferes with a batted ball or a fielder in the act of fielding a batted ball with the obvious intent to break up a double play, the ball is dead. The umpire shall call the runner out for interference and also call out the batter-runner because of the action of his teammate. In no event may bases be run or runs scored because of such action by a runner; (7) If, in the judgment of the umpire, a batter-runner willfully and deliberately interferes with a batted ball or a fielder in the act of fielding a batted ball, with the obvious intent to break up a double play, the ball is dead; the umpire shall call the batter-runner out for interference and shall call out the runner who had advanced closest to the home plate regardless where the double play might have been possible. In no event shall bases be run because of such interference;
No rule change is needed and no complicated new rule is required.
Unwritten rules?
I can hear some of you now, “what about the unwritten rules” so let’s end that discussion now.
“There is no such thing as the neighborhood play,” said Rich Garcia, a Major League Baseball umpire supervisor for seven years after spending 25 years in blue. “You either touch the base or you don;t”
The only instruction or comment I’ve found referring to these plays is noted above. It clearly doesn’t allow phantom tags nor sliding towards the infielder instead of the base.
Next: Breaking up is hard to do and probably a rule violation
Protecting the middle infielder?
Another argument says that without the vicinity play the middle infielder is more likely to be injured. That is simply not true. The current situation does not protect the middle infielder, it puts him in greater danger.
Back in the dark ages when I was learning to play second base I was taught to keep the base between me and the runner or to get across the base before the runner arrived. That principle is still taught today.
The idea is that the base is there and that the runner has to go through it to get to the infielder. Since getting to the base is – or should be – the runner’€™s objective and going over it with a rolling slide is illegal, the base provides some protection.
Breaking up the double play?
The point of any slide should be to attempt to reach a base safely without being tagged and – at least at second and third – stop your forward momentum. Whether it’s feet first or head first, a slide is slower than continuing to run through the base but you may only do that without penalty at first base.
A player going full tilt towards second or third base slides not only to avoid the tag but also to be able to stop on the base.
Sliding in any direction other than towards the base or around a tag at the base makes no sense at all unless you are trying to impede any following play being made on another runner.
If you ask any player why he slides towards the infielder he’ll say he was trying to break up the double play because that’s what he’s supposed to do. In actuality he’s trying to interfere with a player’s ability to make a throw. Why is that legal with middle infielders but not with anyone else?
Breaking up the double play as a side effect of trying to reach second base safely and stop is fine.
Breaking up a double play because you aim your slide at another player
is
was until this season and should be again offensive interference.
Bowden saying in the above referenced discussion that this is the way players are taught to slide is correct but it is a practice that should stop. The target of a slide should be the base, not the infielder because targeting an infielder is against the rules.
Next: It's not macho it's assault?
Aug 20, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman
Jayson Nix(27) completes a double play while being up-ended by Atlanta Braves left fielder Justin Upton (8) during the second inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Perpetuating the macho myth
The video below shows Bryce Harper sliding into second and taking out Eric Young Jr. As the video rolls you’ll s that Harper slid late and popped up in a roll designed to hit Young and not as a factor of the way he slid as the experts said.
Also note what Mitch Williams – now thankfully returned to oblivion – says about a slide into second. He advocates hooking a player around the back of his ankle near the Achilles tendon. Good job Mitch, spoken like someone who’s never had to turn a double play. Besides, what could go wrong?
You’ll have noticed that everyone was concerned about Harper’s injury and virtually ignored Young’s. Stars are so much more important you see. . . I digress.
Secondly that was a completely illegal slide because Harper’s intent was to force Young to make a bad throw by contacting him. Under rule 6.05 that’s specifically prohibited.
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Maybe Harper just doesn’t know how to slide – we see a lot of that these days including our own Andrelton Simmons – but empirical observation suggests that Harper is well schooled in the art of the slide and knew exactly what he was going to do . . .apart from getting conked in the head of course.
The experts that day and since however, accept that as okay and explain why Harper did good even if he injured Young. That’s the environment of acceptance that makes injury an okay thing and that is bad for the game.
Next: Umpire indifference?
Jun 27, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; MLB umpires umpires Bill Welke (L) and James Hoye (R) talk on the field during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first inning at PNC Park. The Pirates won 8-4. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Umpire inconsistency makes it worse
Umpires need to
be consistent in their enforcement
enforce of the rules. They also need to refrain from making silly calls based on their judgment or they need umpires with better judgment
Umpires must know the difference between a player is trying to slide into a base safely and a player bent on colliding with another player particularly when it includes throwing a body block into a player incapable of defending himself. It’s illegal in football and in hockey, why is it legal in baseball?
Braves fans will recall that back in 2012 Freddie Freeman was injured sliding into second when a throw from Jose Reyes hit his hand. Freeman was ruled to have interfered with the throw and Jason Heyward was called out at first base. In case you forgot, here’s the play.
As I noted above the rule says that it has to be the umpire’s judgment that the base runner willfully and deliberately interfered with the throw. Even the Marlin announcers said Freeman certainly didn’t put his hand up there on purpose. After all, it injured his hand and cost him some time on the bench during a pennant chase.
I can live with that kind of call if the umpire is always going to make that assumption as in the case of a runner sliding towards a middle infielder instead of towards the base.
The much maligned home plate collision rule says that the catcher must allow the runner a path to the plate so that a collision can be avoided. It also says a runner may not deviate from his path to the plate to make contact with the catcher.
If the middle infielder attempting to throw the ball isn’t fielding it what is he doing? If he is fielding then these plays are still a violation of the rules. If a runner’s not trying to interfere with play by sliding sliding away from the base when he has a clear path to the base it what is he doing if not interfering?
If we can slide at a middle infielder attempting to make a throw why not a third baseman doing the same thing or a first baseman attempting make a throw for a follow on play?
In a rundown the runner is generally allowed three feet or so from his chosen path to the base before being called out for being out of the baseline. Why does the baseline extend to a runner’s height plus his arm at full extension when he’s sliding into second?
Why do we care less about middle infielders than catchers?
Change Requires A Spokesman
We know from experience that baseball is slow to change its ways and often makes things worse in the process. We’ve also seen that if the right person provides impetus for change baseball can move pretty quickly.
Catchers have been getting run over since the game began. Pete Rose needlessly injured Ray Fosse during an All Star Game by running into him like a train. Fosse was an up and coming star but after the collision he simply wasn’t the same player.
Publicly Fosse holds no grudge and that’s probably his true belief. He grew up knowing it could happen and when it did he accepted it.
In 2011 Scott Cousins ran into another up a coming star catcher – Buster Posey – and injured him badly. Giants’ manager Bruce Bochy was philosophical about it “It’s the toughest play in baseball. You hate to see it. As a catcher you know what it’s like, and you don’t like it. Believe me. When I see him laying there, it’s certainly not a good feeling.” Their GM at the time Brian Sabean was less than forgiving.
“If I never hear from Cousins again or he never plays another game in the big leagues, I think we’ll all be happy.”
Sabean got his wish. Cousins received death threats and feared for his family’s safety. He played 60 games after the collision with his last game coming at the age of 28 in 2013 having never escaped the cloud created by the Posey collision.
According to USA Today, Sabean and the Giants took immediate action.
The Giants have reached out to Major League Baseball in hopes of trying to enact a rules change to protect catchers on tag plays at the plate.
In 2014 the new home plate collision rule went into effect widely supported by the media but with muted player support.
Posey wasn’t the first guy since Fosse injured badly in a home plate collision but his injury was the impetus for the change. Would that change have happened if A.J Pierzynski was the catcher that day? You decide.
Kang is the first big name Korean import and had a superb season for the Bucs. At the time of his injury he had a slash of .287/.355/.461/.816 and an OPS+ of 123. Kang had amassed 4.0 rWAR, 3.9fWAR and posted a wRC+ of 129 in 126 games. He was a stud and a key element in the Pirates pennant hopes and should be in the rookie of the year conversation yet outside of Pittsburgh he’s relatively unknown.
The injury means he’s gone until next season and I’ve heard no one screaming for Coghlan to be banished from baseball and the Pirates have not reached out to MLB for a rule change. Heck no one has even suggested that umpires should simply enforce the existing interference rule.
If that injured player had been Derek Jeter I believe discussions preventing such things from happening again would already be underway. It does matter who you are.
America was outraged tonight with the way Tejada was taken from behind – well everyone except Dodger fans and a few who feel that Tejada should expect a broken leg because he wasn’t facing a runner. Twitter exploded, I’m sure other social media did the same so perhaps we have a silent spokesman; the least likely player in the series to create a change in baseball may end up causing exactly that.
Next: Fixing it won't ruin the game and change will come?
Aug 21, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Atlanta Braves shortstop
Andrelton Simmons(right) throws to first after getting Chicago Cubs center fielder
Dexter Fowler(24) out at second base in the fifth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
That’s A Wrap
Baseball has the most contact of any non-contact sport and players do get injured as a result. Over the years however the sport has come to accept things that are forbidden by rule but teammates would not have allowed to go unpunished back in the day. Imagine a player doing to Maury Wills, or Ozzie Smith what Coghlan unintentionally did to Kang and how Don Drysdale or Bob Gibson would have responded to a teammate injured that way.
I’m not advocating head hunting nor am I advocating making the game less entertaining but this macho BS has to stop. What I suggest is something I believe real fans will support; preventing needless injury to players in order to see the best players on the field all the time.
Umpires should then enforce the existing and explicitly unambiguous rules as they are written. This isn’t – or shouldn’t be – something hard to do. Simply tell teams at the GM and owners meetings this fall that umpires are instructed to enforce rules
6.05
5.09 (a) 13 and
7.09
6.o1 (a) (5) (6) and (7) as written. protect middle infielders and that means slide to the base not at the middle infielder.
The players association should be immediately on board, in fact they should be leading the charge. After all enforcing the rules protects their members from injury and that’s part of the MLBPA charter.
When teams get their annual visit from MLB in the spring telling players how things will be done include a reminder that the middle infielder is not a target. Then enforce the rule. The first time a player slides at a middle infielder and an umpire calls both that player and the runner at first out teams will tell the players to stop.
The madness of sliding at a player instead of a base didn’t happen over night. It crept in a bit at a time. It grew out of lax enforcement of the rules coupled with the macho image baseball and the players have always had of themselves. Some players now think it was alright to put Kang and now Tejada in the hospital. That’s just sad.
It’s time to leave being macho and injured to the NFL and get back to the game as it was meant to be played.
To those that have told me this will make the game soft; get real. The game is played by men who get hit by 95 MPH fastballs and get back in the batter’s box, pitcher’s who take line drives off their head and pitch again in three weeks and outfielders who run into walls trying to catch a fly ball. Soft? Go Away!
There will still be hard slides at second base and infielders leaping over them.
There will still be collisions around the bag but those will be incidental to the play and not seven feet away from the bag.
Sliding into a player and flipping him into the air six feet away from the bag even if it doesn’t injure him should not earn high fives in the dugout. It isn’t funny, manly or being a hard-nosed player; it’s needlessly dangerous. Stop it.