How does the runner get to a blocked plate in Little League?

[CircleChange11]

It's a man's game.

I am a very big fan of violence and bravado. I love it.

But, let's be honest, in regards to the big 4 sports, baseball is the "pussiest" one ... and it's not even close. I say that as one that loves baseball more than just about everything else. Almost all of my buddies are "football guys" and I hear it a lot. When baseball went through the PED Era, there sentiment was "it's about time you guys took the panties off".

Baseball at the MLB level may have been a "man's sport" 100 years ago with takeout slides and wrestling at every base, no helmets, no padded walls, etc.

But, now baseball has to be considered a non-contact skill sport, more akin to golf than football.

I hear the "if you don't like it go play golf" stuff, but I could just as easily say "if you wanna plow and truck, they have a sport for that where you get to do it on almost every play".

Here's the reason why I bring it up ... the players very often won't. They won;t bring it up for the same reason I refused to wear sleeves even though it was 40-degrees on game day ... it doesn't look tough. It looks weak. You lose respect.

But, as we learn more about concussions and baseball, it'll need to be someone outside the players union that protects the catchers. The guys "wearing the armor" aren't going to be the ones to speak up.

As i said before, if we're going to deem baseball a contact sport and a man's game, then let's bring back the real manly stuff. Tell the batters to take off those sissy helmets and stop crying about "being pitched inside" and let's have full contact at all bases like they used to. Let's do away with team warning and let the big boys settle disputes like big boys do.

I am willing to listen to all sorts of logical reasons why collisions at home are a necessary and important part of the game, but the whole "it's a big boy sport" or "a man's game" don;t really count with me ... because baseball has slightly more physical contact than tennis. Slightly.

[songtitle]

But, now baseball has to be considered a non-contact skill sport, more akin to golf than football.

Blame ESPN. They play the fake outrage stories all day, every day.

[CircleChange11]

Blame ESPN. They play the fake outrage stories all day, every day.

We could really debate this all day. In the same conversation we could say that ESPN popularizes the plows at the plate by reshowing the highlights all the time. ESPN could be blamed by both sides. I'm not real interested in what role ESPN plays in it, because they pretty much react to what society wants them to say.

I will say this, I do think ESPN has played a role in bringing awareness to concussions and their lasting effects. For years, concussions were thought of as being a "wimp's time out", now that we're having guys not be able to remember what they had for breakfast and killing themselves, there's more ears willing to listen. Mike Matheny has been one of the first guys to really talk about concussions at the catcher position, so we don't know all that much about it.

One of my favorite plays is Ray Lankford absolutely blowing up Darren Daulton at the plate. Lighting him up like a Pinball machine. But, if that play didn't exist my love for baseball wouldn't decrease, and it's not like there are casual baseball fans everywhere turning into a game just to see a collision at the plate.

I think what is REALLY happening is that fans, teams, etc don;t want to see vital players hurt on plays that could be reduced/eliminated without hurting the game. We don't really want to see Posey injured because Cousins is a dumb baserunner that tried to tag on a shallow fly ball and getting thrown out could mean permanent demotion.

I could come up with countless examples to over-support the point, but I won't for brevity sake. Simply put, the fans, teams, etc want to see the skilled players on the field. The NFL, and NHL have both done similar things. There was a time in all sports where the goons ran the show, and it was entertaining ... for a while. Then fans wanted to see the skill on display. Now, baseball is a little different because there is very little contact. The situation arises because when there is contact it involves one body that is moving at full speed and one body that is at rest.

Catchers are an interesting situation, in that they are expected to take the blow as a personal sacrifice to the team, even though most of the players on the field don;t have any physical contact with the opponent during the game. Essentially we're back to unrealistic expectations being placed on catchers. They're supposed to not only be very athletic, but very intelligent, self-sacrificing, and tough ... oh and often paid less because the position takes a greater toll on their longevity.

Anyway, we're kinda getting off topic here.

back to LL, there should not be (IMO) any blocking of the plate.

My bad on bringing up the MLB. I did so because MLB or "real baseball" is often used as justification for doing the same things at young ages regardless of whether it's age appropriate or not.

[Roothog66]

I witnessed a play this very weekend in a 13maj game where the runner came in standing up and decided to take out the catcher who had the ball. Big runner, little catcher. The catcher ducked at the last minute, took the runner with his shoulder to the midsection and flipped the runner up and over him where he landed at the plate on his head. The ump actually threw the catcher out of the game and did nothing to the runner.

[The Uncoach]

I witnessed a play this very weekend in a 13maj game where the runner came in standing up and decided to take out the catcher who had the ball. Big runner, little catcher. The catcher ducked at the last minute, took the runner with his shoulder to the midsection and flipped the runner up and over him where he landed at the plate on his head. The ump actually threw the catcher out of the game and did nothing to the runner.

That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard. That umpire should be embarrassed.

[jbooth]

I witnessed a play this very weekend in a 13maj game where the runner came in standing up and decided to take out the catcher who had the ball. Big runner, little catcher. The catcher ducked at the last minute, took the runner with his shoulder to the midsection and flipped the runner up and over him where he landed at the plate on his head. The ump actually threw the catcher out of the game and did nothing to the runner.

Wrong call. In all leagues except PROFESSIONAL, the runner has two choices when the catcher HAS THE BALL WAITING TO MAKE A TAG. He may slide, or he may attempt to get around, or avoid the catcher. HE absolutely is not allowed to run through the catcher. The runner should have been called out.

The only time violent collisions may occur is when the ball and the runner arrive at nearly the same time. And, even those must not have any malicious intent.

[Jhall8]

Aloha,
When my son was 10yo he ran over a catcher to score the winning run, catcher was in base path 5' up baseline without the ball and the ball and my son arrived same time and whammo ball went flying catcher went flying and my son touched home. Parents went crazy that we won the game but umpire called him out and tossed him from the game almost had a riot from our parents

First he was to far from home plate to slide should've went around but happened to fast. Funny thing is he's also a catcher i teach him left heal touching left corner of the dish (towards third base) receive ball first then drop and slide to block plate. (just my 2 cents)
P.S my son went over picked up the catcher dusted him off made sure he was alright they became best of friends (funny how the kids figure it out faster then us adults)

We had the exact same situation with my son. Except the catcher was at least 15 feet up the line. Out of the circle. He was facing right field waiting for the throw. With his heels on the baseline. As he caught the ball he turned, facing third base and straddled the line. My son dipped his shoulder to avoid the catcher but as the catcher turned he stepped right into my son's path. The collision was ugly and the catcher rolled across the plate as my son scored. Resulting in an ejection for my son and lots of drama from the other team.

I'm all for following the rules but he was in a no win situation. He tried to avoid the contact but the catcher stepped right in front of him. Much too far from the plate to slide. It also didnt help that he was much bigger and more athletic than the other guy.

I argued that it was no different than a first baseman stepping into a runners path to field an errant throw. I asked if he would've been ejected for a play like that. I figured the umpires reaction as well as the other team's was due to the folklore surrounding home plate collisions. It was an unfortunate series of events but it was done without malice.

Still got a bad taste in my mouth about that one