Couldn't agree more!

The only justification that is plausible is to eliminate hard/high slides, or just going into 2nd hard, to break up the DP. Sorry, but I don't buy that one either. It's part of the game that has been eliminated. When's the last time you saw someone "really" try to break up a DP. I'm surprised they haven't figured out how to prevent someone going hard into the catcher (ala, Buster Posey).

Are baseball players too frail or fragile today? Wideouts/Tight Ends still have to go across the middle and in hockey you still have to go into the corner for the puck. But I guess baseball is comfortable with where the sport has gone - pitching and home runs. Not much "small ball" played at the MLB level anymore.
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I think having people slide in spikes first running as fast as they can does justify a bit of a judgement call on the umps part, don't care who the teams are.
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WAHHHHH. :-)

It still happens despite this neighborhood crap. Players get injured trying to complete or breakup double plays all the time. It's part of the game. Leave it alone and get rid of this "you dont' REALLY have to actually touch the base while you have the ball to get an out" interpretation of the rule. It's fundamental to the game.

NFL teams dont' get a first down for 29ft from scrimmage do they? Do they count hitting the goal post as a goal in the NHL? It's insane to me they way it's handled now.
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:-)
:-)
:-)

I guess to balance things out Bud Selig (the great innovator and caretaker of MLB :-)) will propose a rule change that will make all fly balls caught on the warning track a super-grand-slam home run worth 5 runs.
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I only agree with this rule if it applies to David Ortiz ... oh and what the hell Tom Brady in the case of backyard whiffle ball :-)
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357 said guys are getting injured all the time completing or breaking up DP's at 2nd. Admittedly, I don't watch much baseball anymore but I don't think that happens much anymore. I mean really going hard into the shortstop. Hell, you really can't - the shortstop is almost in right field before he throws the ball to first.

Gotta go in spikes first Peter, unless you mandate head first (Pete Rose) slides into double plays. The only point I draw the line is where maniacs like Ty Cobb would literally sharpen his spikes to intimidate others. And apparently, it wasn't just bravado - he really went in to rip guys up and hurt them. Great player, but POS human being.:-)
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Yes the Ty Cobb style slides (trying to injure) are not common, but guys frequently slide into defensive players to break up double-plays. It happened on the play I was complaining about. Nobody was hurt THAT time but it happens a lot I'm sure given 162 games/year.

I Googled "injured breaking up double play" and there's 5 players mentioned on the first page, no incident older than 2012.

Here's Jacoby Ellsbury this year
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWV7uRtmk0c

According to this http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...42700&c_id=mlb all the player has to do is make an attempt to touch 2B when breaking up a double play.

I suggest a comprimise of sorts. It should be legal to break up the play but if you don't touch the base, you should be ejected. AND, the defensive player would actually have to touch the base and the basesball at the same time, EVERYTIME!!!! This way you would eliminate or strongly discourage going way outside the basepath to injure someone while preserving the fundamentals/integrity of the game.
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Jose freaking Abreu:-)
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Good to "see" you Nate. :-)
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You too Mike, maybe my Sox can be more of a challenge for your Tigers next year:-) doubt it though:-)
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Can't wait to see this kid next year
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fP2PrTvnk3U
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Image

:-)
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If it is really about player safety, then why can a runner barrel into home plate, no intention at all to hit the plate, but rock the catchers world?
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Catcher has a little more protection than say a second baseman. Also this is all about second and breaking up the double play, at least that's the excuse, it's really the only time it happens.
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Protection? That catcher gear helps getting a shoulder to your ribs? Sin guards help your knees?

They get hit just as hard, are like a defenseless receiver at that point. More then nit, the catcher has very little time to brace.. plus he is kneeling down while the runner is diving right at him.
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Oh dear Lord please don't change mlb like nfl and nba. The changes are said to be for the players protection, that is bull$hit.
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If it's a bang....bang play the fielder gets it.

If it is booted,bobbled or a bad throw then it is looked at very close and called accordingly.

That is the way it has been called forever for all teams.
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Edit: NM go back to whaaaaa

You wanna ***** and complain complain about Joe West's every changing strike zone lol
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OK, I guess we can close this thread up now and start the 2014 thread.


:-) :-)
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I was ready a week ago.
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