CHICAGO – If the Rangers learned anything new Wednesday about MLB’s home plate collision rules, it’s this: It’s not so much about how the play ends; it’s...
MLB officials informed them that when Jonah Heim began the crucial eighth-inning play Tuesday with his foot on the right corner of home plate it constituted an illegal setup. It led to further violation of the home plate collision protocols even though it appeared that the runner, former Ranger Elvis Andrus, had a clear lane to home plate. The Rangers’ previous understanding of the rule is that was what mattered most., a former catcher, said of his conversations with MLB officials.
MLB officials, speaking on background, confirmed replay umpire Ryan Blakney, in New York, cited Heim’s setup as illegal and added that his subsequent actions impeded Andrus’ path to the plate. The official said the league has clarified to teams in multiple meetings that catchers should set up with both feet in fair territory in front of the plate. In presentations to teams, the league cited several different setups as illegal and placing the catcher in jeopardy of a violation.
More important to the Rangers, though: They aren’t sure why it matters. They remain convinced Heim presented a lane for Andrus to slide and reach home plate safely. And that they did not violate the spirit of the rule. “I just don’t believe it was the right call,” Rangers catching instructor Bobby Wilson said. “There was no contact and there was a lane provided. I thought it was a great baseball play for [Heim] to make a tag.”Dallas Morning News
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