My two cents. You have to touch second while in possession of the ball. That's a pretty biblical rule of executing a force out. I can't see you sacrificing that because of a hard slide, that's also part of the game, and in my opinion just a risk of the trade. Like a collision at home plate, or an aggravated hitter charging the mound, or a batter getting a rib cracked due to a fastball.

Part of the game.

artie_fufkin wrote:

If middle infielders aren't given a little leeway around the bag, we're going to be taking second basemen to the hospital every other game. Baseball isn't intended to be a contact sport. There's no way players can last for six months if they start playing football at second base.

I agree with that, Artie, but I don't think the answer is to tell a middle infielder he doesn't have to touch the bag. I also wouldn't tell a first or third baseman that (and first carries just as big of an injury risk if his tagging foot is stepped on by a runner).

I don't want baseball to be a contact sport, certainly not, but there are occassions where contact occurs, and I don't agree that a middle infielder should be able to turn a double play without possessing the ball and touching second base at some point during the process.

 

forsberg_us wrote:

artie_fufkin wrote:

If middle infielders aren't given a little leeway around the bag, we're going to be taking second basemen to the hospital every other game. Baseball isn't intended to be a contact sport. There's no way players can last for six months if they start playing football at second base.

Which is sort of the point I think Passan is making. Presumably replay will take away that leeway--to an extent. As I understand it, teams will only be given so many "challenges." If that's the case, would a manager want to burn one on a phantom tag play in the 1st inning? Maybe, Maybe not. But if the manager chooses to challenge, or the play occurs in the 8th inning rather than the first, and replay shows the fielder off the bag at the time he catches the ball, then I think the umpires will be compelled to call the runner safe.

The risk of a challenge may cause the fielder to stay on the bag longer. If that's the case, then does baseball need to change the rules regarding how a player must slide?

I think baseball probably should change the rule on how a player must slide. It makes a lot more sense to me than allowing a middle infielder to get crippled, and certainly makes more sense than him not having to touch the bag. I'm trying to come up with a safe solution for plays at the plate, because those collisions are crazy and I don't see them really adding much value to the game. But you almost have to eliminate a catchers ability to block the plate if you force a runner to slide.