After watching the Atlanta Braves have the tying run cut down at home to end the game, Brian Snitker is right that the catching collision rule needs to be removed.
One can understand Brian Snitker‘s frustration after the way last night ended for the Atlanta Braves. With two outs and runners on first and second, Freddie Freeman drilled a double to deep left field. Adeiny Hecchavarria easily scored from second, and Dansby Swanson appeared set to score from first, tying the game at 5-5. Instead, the throw sailed up the line, leading to Andrew Knapp effectively blocking the plate, with Swanson gunned down for the final out.
Understandably, Snitker was irate at the lack of a call to allow the run to score. He pointed out the inconsistency of the rule and its enforcement, calling for the rule to be removed from the game.
Snitker on asking the umps to review if Realmuto violated the plate-blocking rule: "He was sitting there pretty good, but they're not calling that anymore. They need to take that off the book and just start blowing up catchers again."
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) August 24, 2020
Well, it was Knapp, but the point remains. If the rule is not being called fairly on both sides, then it is time to change the rule. Or, perhaps, eliminate the rule altogether.
The rule absolutely makes sense. Being a catcher takes a toll on the body, with blocking pitches in the dirt, being on the wrong end of foul tips, and the wear and tear on the knees every day. The Buster Posey Rule was designed to help protect catchers, not only from more damage to their bodies, but from major injury.
But the rule is supposed to work both ways. Not only are baserunners not allowed to run over catchers any longer, but catchers are supposed to allow the baserunner a path to the plate. That is not happening, as more catchers are letting the ball travel up the line so as to block the plate without it appearing to be intentional.
Therein lies the issue. Catchers are not being called for blocking the plate, even when it is plainly apparent as it was Sunday night. That discrepancy is leading to frustration, and may end up where, in such a circumstance, the runner just plows through the catcher since the call will not be made against the backstop anyway.
The umpires need to start calling catchers blocking the plate both ways. Or, as Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker suggested, it is time to remove the rule from the books entirely.