Home Plate Collisions: Part of the Game or Unsafe?

Major League Baseball is reportedly looking to ban home-plate collisions for the 2014 season. The collisions in question are when a runner can attempt to knock the ball out of the catcher's hand, provided they are blocking home-plate. The MLBPA (Major League Baseball Players' Association) still needs to approve of the law for it to be used in 2014. The proposal will also be presented to the team owners in January for their approval (ESPN). 

ESPN's Buster Olney outlined the proposed change: 

• "Catchers will not be allowed to block home plate.
• Runners will not be permitted to target the catchers.
• The question of whether or not the plate was blocked or the runner targeted the catcher will be reviewable, with an immediate remedy available to the umpires.
• Catchers or runners who violate the new rules will be subject to disciplinary action."

The term "railroading" has been used in recent years to describe what the act has turned into--what some consider violent and unnecessary attempts to bowl-over a catcher. Many injuries have resulted from these attempts, most notably and recently when Giants catcher Buster Posey suffered a broken leg and three torn ankle ligaments back in 2011 (See Video). The MLB has reportedly estimated that 50% of all league concussions have been resulted from the collisions (ESPN). 

 

 Many former players, such as Hall-of-Fame catcher Johnny Bench have agreed with the decisions, citing personal stories:

The collision I had in 75 with Gary Matthews in April crushed the AC joint and I had 6 cortisone shots every 3 weeks. @MLB
— Johnny Bench (@Johnny_Bench5) December 12, 2013

This decision has come amid discussion, debate and even lawsuits regarding the issue. Most notably, the National Football League has made many attempts to deal with the issue--attempts which some say are not enough. Mets manager Sandy Alderson, who happens to be chairman of the rules committee, said "the general occurrence of injuries from these incidents at home plate that affect players, both runners and catchers. And also kind of the general concern about concussions that exists not only in baseball but throughout professional sports and amateur sports today. It's an emerging issue, and one that we in baseball have to address, as well as other sports." 

Many fans have said that collisions are part of the game and its fun. Most fans, in fact, have disagreed with the decision according to an ESPN SportsNation poll.  

QUESTION: Do you agree with the decision to ban home-plate collisions? 

Tweet us @TheMetsBeat with your answer or post a comment in our discussion box to the left of this article.