Blocking the plate
Encyclopedia
In baseball
, blocking the plate is a common technique performed by a catcher
to prevent a runner from scoring. The act of blocking the plate accounts for most of the physical contact in baseball.
By the rules of baseball, a runner has the right to an unobstructed
path to a base. However, this right is not granted if the fielder guarding the base possesses the ball or is in the process of catching the ball.
The fielders guarding first through third base are unlikely to risk physical harm and will generally place themselves out of the path of the runner. The catcher guarding home plate
, however, wears padding and a face mask and will frequently place his body as an obstacle between the runner and home plate. Since the runner does not have to worry about remaining on home plate, only tagging it, he will run at full speed in an effort to reach the final base. The speed of the runner combined with the fact that the catcher still has to tag him (unless the bases are loaded and the force play at home is still available) makes for a dramatic play.
The catcher soon becomes aware of which option the runner will choose. If the runner slides, the catcher will make a sweeping motion with his glove to quickly tag the runner out. Otherwise, the catcher must do everything he can to brace for the impact and keep the ball in his glove.
injury to the catcher. Other injuries include bruises and concussions.
In one infamous incident, Cleveland Indians
catcher Ray Fosse
suffered a separated shoulder when Pete Rose
intentionally collided with him on a play at the plate during the 1970 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
. Rose was roundly criticized, since firstly, the game was an exhibition
, and secondly, he could have easily slid around Fosse rather than colliding with him. Ultimately, the incident served to help build Rose's "Charlie Hustle" reputation and Fosse, who had been having a phenomenal rookie season, was never quite the same after the play.
In other versions of baseball, like Finnish baseball, the runner is considered tagged and out in case of him/her still running to base (and not yet arriving there) and defending player holding the ball while touching the target base simultaneously. In this case no physical contact is necessary to avoid injuries and the base umpire will call the runner out by raising a sign with letter X and referee whistles twice. In Finnish baseball player who is called out is literally called either "dead" or "burned."
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, blocking the plate is a common technique performed by a catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
to prevent a runner from scoring. The act of blocking the plate accounts for most of the physical contact in baseball.
By the rules of baseball, a runner has the right to an unobstructed
Obstruction (baseball)
In baseball, when a fielder illegally hinders a baserunner, the fielder is guilty of obstruction.Baserunners are generally permitted the free privilege to run from base to base without being physically blocked or hindered by a fielder...
path to a base. However, this right is not granted if the fielder guarding the base possesses the ball or is in the process of catching the ball.
The fielders guarding first through third base are unlikely to risk physical harm and will generally place themselves out of the path of the runner. The catcher guarding home plate
Home Plate
Home Plate is the fifth album by Bonnie Raitt, released in 1975 .-Track listing:#"What Do You Want the Boy to Do?" – 3:19#"Good Enough" – 2:56#"Run Like a Thief" – 3:02...
, however, wears padding and a face mask and will frequently place his body as an obstacle between the runner and home plate. Since the runner does not have to worry about remaining on home plate, only tagging it, he will run at full speed in an effort to reach the final base. The speed of the runner combined with the fact that the catcher still has to tag him (unless the bases are loaded and the force play at home is still available) makes for a dramatic play.
Technique
Any time there is a close play at home plate, meaning the ball and runner reach the plate at the same time, the catcher squats in front of the plate to block a clear path. Unless he is willing to be tagged out, the runner who is faced with a blocked plate has two choices. He can:- Attempt to slideSlide (baseball)In baseball, a slide is when a player, acting as a baserunner, drops his body to the ground once he is very close to the base he is approaching and slides along the ground to reach the base....
around the catcher and avoid being tagged, or, - Collide with the catcher with such force that the catcher has no chance of keeping possession of the ball.
The catcher soon becomes aware of which option the runner will choose. If the runner slides, the catcher will make a sweeping motion with his glove to quickly tag the runner out. Otherwise, the catcher must do everything he can to brace for the impact and keep the ball in his glove.
Risk
Both players place themselves at risk of injury when there is a close play at home plate, and though they wear padding, catchers are more likely to be injured than runners. Catchers generally have bad knees due to the squatting stance they take at the plate. A catcher's knees are also closest body part to an incoming runner, and there is a chance of an ACLAnterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
injury to the catcher. Other injuries include bruises and concussions.
In one infamous incident, Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
catcher Ray Fosse
Ray Fosse
Raymond Earl Fosse is a former professional baseball player who was a catcher in the Major Leagues. He was drafted in the first round of the 1965 amateur draft by the Cleveland Indians. Fosse also holds the distinction of being the Indians' first ever draft pick, as 1965 was the first year of the...
suffered a separated shoulder when Pete Rose
Pete Rose
Peter Edward Rose , nicknamed "Charlie Hustle", is a former Major League Baseball player and manager. Rose played from 1963 to 1986, and managed from 1984 to 1989....
intentionally collided with him on a play at the plate during the 1970 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
. Rose was roundly criticized, since firstly, the game was an exhibition
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
, and secondly, he could have easily slid around Fosse rather than colliding with him. Ultimately, the incident served to help build Rose's "Charlie Hustle" reputation and Fosse, who had been having a phenomenal rookie season, was never quite the same after the play.
In other versions of baseball, like Finnish baseball, the runner is considered tagged and out in case of him/her still running to base (and not yet arriving there) and defending player holding the ball while touching the target base simultaneously. In this case no physical contact is necessary to avoid injuries and the base umpire will call the runner out by raising a sign with letter X and referee whistles twice. In Finnish baseball player who is called out is literally called either "dead" or "burned."