re: Do the umps make this call at Alex Box?

That’s the other thing. You can actually legally run into the catcher. But the replay ump said he was beyond a shadow of a doubt positive the player had malicious intent.Its ridiculous

You want him to slide head first directly into a human being standing in front of him blocking the plate?

And once again all the umps on the field said he was safe

It took over 10 minutes for some jackass not even at the game to call him out

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Some of y’all have a real hard time reading a rule book. Catcher was in the process of fielding the ball. He has a right to the ball. It’s the runners obligation to avoid the catcher.

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Here's the part of the rule book I'm reading.

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Note 6: The catcher, without the ball in his possession, has no right to block the pathway of the runner attempting to score. The base line belongs to the runner and the catcher should be there only when he is fielding the ball or when he already has the ball in his hand.

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The catcher was setup in the running lane the entire time. He didn't make a last second move to catch an errant throw. I don't know where some of you are getting the "runner's responsibility to avoid the catcher" stuff. It's literally the opposite of what this rule states. The catcher should have setup outside of the running lane giving a path for the runner.

I know the last sentence states he can be there when fielding the ball. The catcher is not fielding the ball when the runner makes his slide attempt/makes contact with him. Bang bang play, but certainly not one that should have resulted in a runner being called out and ejected.

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He didn't make a last second move to catch an errant throw.

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The throw was almost perfect. Not errant. Catcher caught or attempted to catch ball on the line of the ball.

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But you don’t have to slide. This isn’t little league.

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The failure by the runner to make an effort to touch the plate, the runner’s lowering of the shoulder, or the runner’s pushing through with their hands, elbows or arms, would support a determination that the runner deviated from the pathway in order to initiate contact with the catcher in violation of the Collision Rule 8-7, or otherwise initiated a collision that could have been avoided. A slide shall be deemed appropriate, in the case of a feet-first slide, if the runner’s buttocks and legs should hit the ground before contact with the catcher. In the case of a headfirst slide, a runner shall be deemed to have slid appropriately if their body should hit the ground before contact with the catcher.

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Unless the catcher is in possession of the ball, the catcher cannot block the pathway of the runner as they are attempting to score. If, in the judgment of the umpire, the catcher without possession of the ball blocks the pathway of the runner, the umpire shall call or signal the runner safe. Notwithstanding the above, it shall not be considered a violation if the catcher blocks the pathway of the runner in a legitimate attempt to field a throw that arrives at the position of the catcher at the same time as the runner, (e.g., in reaction to the direction, trajectory or the hop of the incoming throw, or in reaction to a throw that originates from the pitcher or drawn-in infielder). In addition, a catcher without possession of the ball shall not be adjudged to be in violation if the runner could have avoided the collision with the catcher (or other player covering home plate) by sliding.

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Cut and dry. Guy didn’t slide, pushed through with his hands, and all of that superseded any obstruction that you think may have occurred.

You can argue for another 13 pages and still be wrong.

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There was no intention of sliding by that player.

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Compare that to what the best player in baseball at sliding looks like as he starts his slide in front of the bag



Argue incorrectly if you want he should have started sliding earlier, but he is falling to his arse legs tucked back and shoulders leaning back. He is quite literally starting a textbook slide

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Cut and dry. Guy didn’t slide, pushed through with his hands, and all of that superseded any obstruction that you think may have occurred. You can argue for another 13 pages and still be wrong.

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No it’s not cut and dry. It’s based on judgement. Runner should not be tossed and out for not sliding into a catcher who doesn’t have the ball.

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One is sliding damn near at the batters box and the other.... you don't even see a box yet.

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not many boxes at third base

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Cut and dry.

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It's quite the opposite. In fact, different portions of the rule book have been posted on this page that seem to be contradictory. That's probably the issue in this situation.