So Shane Victorino, the Phillie who was deliberately hit with a pitch, is the only one suspended by MLB. Say what?

I always fall asleep before the really good stuff happens!

On SportsCenter last night, ESPN ran a segment on collisions at home plate. Runners attempting to score routinely crash into catchers blocking the plate in an attempt to separate them from the ball.

Why are the catcher and the plate dealt with differently than any other position and base? A runner who barrels into an infielder trying to turn a double play would be called out for interference (and so would the runner behind him). Imagine a would-be base stealer lowering his shoulder and crashing into the fielder. Should that be allowed? What if runners legging out infield grounders routinely tackled first basemen? What if a runner could shove a pitcher covering first base on a ground ball to the right side? What if every instance of opposing players coming into close proximity of one another carried the potential for violent collisions?

Continue reading “Crash course” →

The loss of baseball innocence. This one tugged at my heartstrings.

Good news: Chooch is on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Bad news: Chooch is on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

It really is, and the fact that he was there with his kid is even worse. But I keep thinking that for a baseball fan, it’s not such a bad way to go.

Okay, the no-hitter petered out in the sixth inning (he did hold them to two), but Cliff Lee did pitch his third consecutive shutout last night. Go Cliff!

Cliff Lee is doing that thing against the Red Sox right now. You know the one I mean. Just don’t say it.

There are so many things you could do to improve baseball, but this isn’t one of them