The throw came in from San Francisco right fielder Nate Schierholtz, with the intention of throwing out runner Scott Cousins at home plate during the 12th inning of a 6-6 ballgame. The throw arrived, just a little late and slightly to the first base side of the plate. Catcher Buster Posey never fully secured the ball before attempting a tag, not that having possession would have prevented everything that was to follow. Cousins was safe at home, allowing the Marlins to take a 7-6 lead. On the play however, Cousins barreled into Posey with full force, making contact with most (if not all) of his upper body. The voice of longtime Giants broadcaster Jon Miller still echoes, “And Posey gets clobbered”.
Posey lay on the ground grasping at dirt, seemingly searching for some relief to the very obvious and very intense pain he was experiencing. That intense pain, it was later revealed, was the result of a fractured left ankle. A series of MRIs also revealed additional ligament damage, casting further doubt on when Posey may be able to return to action. Initial estimates have Posey missing the remainder of the 2011 season, with the primary focus centering on a full recovery for Spring Training, 2012. Granted, when an injury of this severity occurs, baseball activities are a distant second to making certain that the player involved is able to simply walk again.
Whenever a player is severely injured, particularly a star player like Posey, fans and analysts want answers to questions like “why”. It seems an innocuous enough query, but that word “why” can be a loaded one. Desperate for answers, it is the natural inclination of some to start to assign blame.
In this way, the runner (Cousins) is an easy target for blame, much in the way Pete Rose is blamed for Ray Fosse’s demise. Although, if Cousins were a player of Rose’s caliber, it’s doubtful that so many fingers would be pointed in his general direction. In fact, as was the case with Rose, Cousins would be applauded for his hard-nosed style of play, and his overwhelming desire to win at all costs. Writers would be coining nicknames for him (Scotty “Hustle”, anyone?), and the play would be held up as a testament to the competitive spirit of some mythical, bygone era. The same sportswriters who want fans to believe that everything was better when players cared more (as expressed by their willingness to run out ground balls, lay down bunts, and, well, take out catchers) are the very scribes that are looking to place blame on the game for allowing certain players to care too much.
Now, many in the industry are calling for stricter enforcement of the rules governing collisions at and around the plate, be they regarding the legality of obstructing the plate (something the rules already disallow) or the guidelines regarding collisions (at the plate or otherwise). Should Major League Baseball now seek to more stringently enforce those existing rules that are supposed to protect the employees on the field of play, or are additional steps (i.e. new rules) necessary to ensure that players are safe on the job? The NCAA and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) already have a system of rules in place to prevent home plate collisions, and they’ve helped to reduce the number of serious injuries. Is it then time for MLB to follow suit and find solutions for this newfound collision dilemma?
It must be understood that the injury dilemma is nothing new to baseball. In 1972, when the Designated Hitter rule was implemented, there was a concerted effort to attempt to infuse the game with more offensive production, well, in the American league anyway. Another part of that argument was that pitchers were placed in harm’s way by having to run the bases. To this end, pitchers were (and still are) allowed to wear a warm-up jacket while on the base paths. The practice has largely fallen out of favor in today’s game, but the image of a robust Fernando Valenzuela expanding his already prominent profile by donning a satin jacket is an image you won’t soon forget. A rule was changed, for better or for worse, and pitchers are now safer for it, or, are they?
Yankees manager Joe Girardi was openly critical of the necessity of pitchers having to run the bases after Chien-Ming Wang injured his foot on the base paths during a 2008 game against the Houston Astros (in Houston, obviously). Here again, someone or something had to be blamed for Wang’s misfortune, even if Girardi was unwilling or unable to offer a reasonable solution. Designated runners? A universal DH rule that governed both leagues? Each is a possibility, but altering the existing rules couldn’t turn back time and prevent Wang’s foot injury (even if he did only throw 88 MPH), nor would it assure that designated hitters and/or runners wouldn’t be injured themselves. Yet because Wang was forced to miss significant time due to the injury, someone (not the injured player, mind you) had to assume the guilt.
Fast-forward yet again, to April 12, 2011, and a very well-documented play involving the Rangers Josh Hamilton. Hamilton, a player with an already spotty injury history, was injured during a play at the plate versus the Detroit Tigers. With the score at 1-0, Hamilton tagged up on a foul pop out to third baseman Brandon Inge. On the play, C Victor Martinez also converged on the ball, leaving home plate unattended. Aware of the situation at hand, third base coach Dave Anderson sent Hamilton (who had tagged up on the play) in an attempt to score. Martinez outraced Hamilton to the plate, forcing the former American League MVP to slide head-first slide into home. He was out. Of course, he was also injured.
Medical exams revealed that Hamilton suffered a broken humerus bone, eventually forcing the former American League MVP to miss 36 games. Immediately following the game, Hamilton was openly critical of the decision by to send him in that situation, stating explicitly that it was “a stupid play”. The implication here is that Hamilton’s injury couldn’t have possibly occurred had he been held at third—a fairly obvious observation. Yet the injury also sparked a dialogue about the necessity of the head first slide. Is it safe? Is it even effective?
Anyone asking those questions need only look up the career numbers of Rickey Henderson to find a clear answer. Looking further, Hamilton’s had his fair share of close plays at the plate, but none of them to that point led to a serious injury. Additionally, throughout his career, he’s made countless head-first slides, including one on the play that found Hamilton standing on third base to begin with (an RBI triple). Another fact that cannot be ignored is that Hamilton was the Rangers designated hitter on the day he was injured, presumably in an effort to reduce the strain on his body. It didn’t work. Then again, there’s really no planning for the type of injury Hamilton sustained.
The Posey injury has thrust the topic of player safety into the spotlight once again. What responsibility do teams (and MLB) have in protecting their players? And, what responsibility do the players have in protecting themselves? Posey has yet to address the issue publicly, as he’s undoubtedly been preoccupied with the immediacy of the injury itself. Posey’s agent, Jeff Berry, has stated that he’d like Major League Baseball to consider the notion of changing the rules that govern plays at home plate, specifically for safety reasons. Commissioner Bud Selig has yet to issue an official statement, but baseball will likely come out in support of its existing rules, for liability purposes if nothing else. At the same time, straw polls of the players themselves indicate that they simply do not favor any rules that would curtail aggressive play.
Aggressive play is one of the ways by which players foster their very identities. To this end, plays at the plate happen, and will continue to happen. So too will head first slides. These are parts of the game that simply will not change. But, should they?
More often than not, pitchers that get injured do so while throwing. In order to eliminate future pitching-related injuries, Major League Baseball should consider allowing batters to hit from a tee, thereby reducing the risk to pitchers’ elbows and shoulders. While the notion of advertising on bases fell by the wayside, perhaps MLB should consider replacing bases with down pillows (the softer the better). Players will no longer be required to run the bases, but will instead ride Segways from station to station. This station-to-station style of play will prevent players from taking extra bases and eliminate the need for sliding altogether. Fielders will no longer be required to catch balls for fear of injuring their hands—hands that are needed for signing contracts and/or checks. Additionally, hitters will not be permitted to use a bat, as the use of a potential weapon sends a message of violence to children. With these measures in place, baseball will finally be closer to becoming the fan-friendly, safety-minded sport it should be. Or, everyone can just go play soccer.
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