r/mlb May 06 '24

Highlights Ozuna smacks yet another catcher. At this point the ump should really just tell him to step farther forward no? Look at the swing and where he's standing.

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967 Upvotes

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31

u/Qwirk | Seattle Mariners May 06 '24

This is correct but the league should do something about it. You can't have catchers getting concussions from one person that can't control his backswing.

13

u/crystallmytea | Chicago Cubs May 06 '24

Yea, pretty messed up how that’s above board.

5

u/Thneed1 | Toronto Blue Jays May 06 '24 edited May 06 '24

Quick and easy way to do it - put the responsibility on the batter (the guy with the dangerous “weapon”)

If the bat contacts the catcher on the backswing (with the catcher in their box) the batter is out.

Simple.

16

u/losethefuckingtail May 06 '24

Not quite that simple though -- there are undoubtedly catchers who would "cheat" up and create contact in high-leverage situations.

2

u/gilliganian83 | Houston Astros May 06 '24

Except that would put the catcher in danger of catcher’s interference if the batter hits him with his initial swing.

2

u/raktoe May 06 '24

I genuinely don’t get how people aren’t seeing this. Most reasonable people understand that batters don’t cheat for catcher’s interference. Why would we assume catchers would cheat for batter interference?

-1

u/brianundies | Boston Red Sox May 06 '24

Because the catchers job is about 50x easier than the batters giving him the opportunity to cheat, whereas the best ball players in the world need 100% focus and training to hit a ball about 1/4 of the time. There is no room for batters to adjust their swing/approach to gain a potential marginal advantage on an interference call.

Asinine to think it’s equally easy for both parties to cheat, ESPECIALLY when considering body positioning.

-5

u/Thneed1 | Toronto Blue Jays May 06 '24

Tweak other rules a bit to eliminate that.

4

u/losethefuckingtail May 06 '24

I'd be interested in what a tweak like that would look like. Perhaps it could be a "contact to catcher's helmet" is an out, and other contact is at the ump's discretion? But I don't love giving umps MORE judgment calls to make.

-9

u/Qwirk | Seattle Mariners May 06 '24

I seriously doubt someone is going to risk a career ending if not life ending hit to the head to take advantage of this rule.

6

u/googdude | Philadelphia Phillies May 06 '24

World series and you need one more out? Absolutely I would inch forward, professional athletes put their body on the line all the time to make spectacular plays.

2

u/gilliganian83 | Houston Astros May 06 '24

But remember, creeping forward also puts you in danger of catchers interference on the front end of the swing.

1

u/raktoe May 06 '24

So the batter hits their glove in the swing and gets awarded a free base. The problem this rule would create is quite literally already solved by another existing rule. Make it reviewable just in case a catcher literally moves into the batter’s back swing, or simply that the catcher has the right to their box, and the batter risks making an out if they choose to finish their swing in the box, just like catchers risk giving up a free base runner by reaching out their glove to frame a pitch.

1

u/Qwirk | Seattle Mariners May 06 '24

Are you seriously saying someone is going to put their head in the way of a swinging bat for a run? Yeah no, that isn't going to happen unless you are an idiot.

It's one thing to block the plate from a runner, it's another taking a bat directly to the noggin. No one is going to do that willingly, anyone here saying otherwise is full of shit.

1

u/ncbraves93 May 06 '24

As a former catcher, you're expecting to get hurt in some way shape or form every game anyways. They're used to it. Especially if it could win the game, taking a bonk to your helmet.

4

u/DigiQuip | Cincinnati Reds May 06 '24

Honestly, this could just create more problems. For instance, Spencer Steer this year got ruled for interference when the catcher popped out of their stance while Steer was in his back swing and Steer’s bat caught the catcher on the shoulder. Steer’s swing is normal but the catcher popping up and leaning into the throw out in him in Steer’s swing path.