Posey's Play at the Plate

Two nights ago, the 2010 NL Rookie of the Year, Buster Posey, suffered a broken leg and a torn ligament due to a collision at the plate with Florida Marlins outfielder Scott Cousins. Since this collision and injury, it has been brought up by several people that the MLB should make a rule change that would not allow catchers to block home plate. My thoughts are, that if any rule is to be made, it should disallow the thrusting of a runner's body into that of the catcher. This would help prevent concussions, broken bones, torn ligaments, and potential ended seasons.

The way that people look at the play, the play at the plate, affects all of the plays. Of course in hindsight it seems ridiculous that a star player will risk his season to save one run in a non-divisional game in May, but on the other hand, if he were to step away from the play and take his body away from the risk he would be considered a coward and a player that lacks heart.

People look at that play and say that catchers shouldn't block the plate, but in this case with Posey, there would be much less injury caused if Posey was in a proper position to block home plate. Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike Posey, he is actually one of my favorite players in the game, but he did a horrible job of positioning himself. Posey should have lined himself in front of the plate, on both feet in an athletic stance. Instead, Posey was off to the side, diving over the plate on his knees. This faulty set-up allowed Posey's leg to be bent and broken.

It is a bad send off for a great player, but hopefully he will return this season. The San Fransisco Giants will miss his presence in the order, but hopefully for them they won't slip too far in the standings. The Giants are currently first-place in the NL West, a game and a half above the Arizona Diamondbacks.