Interesting story from Derrick Goold of the Post-Dispatch about how the Cardinals are approaching the new rules about avoiding home plate collisions. Rules that are not yet written, actually. Which means that the Cards are sort of making up their own approach. But it sounds like a really smart approach that I imagine a lot of teams will adopt:
[Mike Matheny] described for the media how catchers used to set up at the point nearest third base and, once they had the throw, would then move to block the plate. Now, as a third baseman often does, the catchers will set up on the first-base side of the plate and approach it as a tag play where the glove must be able to reach all points of the plate.
They’re calling it “must-slide, must-tag.” Which I presume applies to their own runners sliding and catchers making tag plays. Or that could mean the opposing players must slide because the Cards’ catchers aren’t going to give them a target to run into.
Either way: if it cuts down on collisions and injuries, it makes perfect sense to me.
