"Major League Baseball plans to eliminate home plate collisions, possibly as soon as next season but no later than by 2015. Sources tell ESPN.com's Buster Olney that there is a strong desire for MLB's rules committee to fast track the specific rule changes in time for next season." http://espn.go.com/mlb/hotstove13/story/_/id/10121849/mlb-intends-ban-home-plate-collisions-2015
...well, through the gradual pussification of Football, the NFL rules committee has pretty much ruined the game for me. ...as far as Baseball, I don't see how they can fairly enforce a collision rule because there are too many variables and "what ifs". For example; 1. Throws to the plate are not always accurate and the catcher may be taken up the 3rd base line and may accidentally collide with the runner. 2. Also, if in the Ump's opinion, the runner runs into the catcher, is he automatically out regardless if he was tagged? 3. And conversely, if the catcher blocks the runner, is the runner automatically ruled safe regardless if he was tagged or not?. 4. Will players be fined for violations of the rules? 5. When the pitcher covers home plate after a WP or a PB, is he governed by the same rule? 6. What about the rule that allows a runner to take out the 2Bman or SS on a double play ball?...they are wanting to protect catchers but not infielders? ...IMO, I don't think any runner particularly wants to run into a catcher but a catcher is creating the problem by intentionally trying to block the runner. And since the runner is being impeded by the catcher, the easiest way to make this work is to simply do away with the rule that allows the catcher/pitcher to block home plate in the first place...if the catcher/pitcher does block the runner, the runner is ruled safe...problem solved and simplified.
^^^^ In todays world of freak injuries, your point of the players wanting to crash into catchers is totally right. For a 162 games most do the hook slide or the famous Willie Stargell slide and do a comeup slide about 15 feet short and call time out. Now game 7 of the World Series, that's different. Here's Willie's slide http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ194opBr8Y
...lol...I remember that. Pops was one of a kind. I also remember his classic look when a pitch slipped out of the pitcher's hand and floated over his head. [video=youtube;rmqT4cS5Ig4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmqT4cS5Ig4[/video]
...oh, also thought of another inequity of the proposed new "blocking" rule...what about when a base runner tries to steal 2nd base and the SS or 2Bman takes the throw from the catcher and drops a knee in front of the bag, thereby blocking the runner from the bag?...it's also a dangerous play, especially if the runner goes in head first
