I'd have to say that in all my years of playing baseball, I've never seen a bag injure someone but I have seen a runner injure someone with cleats which in my view would happen regardless of the bag size....in minor leagues there's less aggressive base stealing. A guy like Ty Cobb would try to take out a player for a steal..I guess if it keeps players safer, it's going to be implemented. will tarnish stolen base records a bit but the 3 pt shot did the same in hoops...Jerry West would have had thousands more pts if he'd had a 3 pt shot.
I've seen twisted ankles, hyper-extended knee, torn ligaments from stepping on the base improperly when running, but hell, I've seen that sort of thing at 2B, 3B, and at HP...so I don't see how making the bases bigger is gonna help protect the base runners...if anything it would seem to make for an even bigger place to get hurt on.
Come on you guys! It's obvious that bigger bases will decrease injuries. More surface area means the chance of an intersection is lessened.
They could actually eliminate bags altogether and have the base level with the ground like homeplate is. Would be tougher for umps to call but safer I guess.
I think the physical properties of the base are important. Runners depend on them to slow their momentum when stealing, they practically overrun the bags now they have so much speed. A flat plate would make it way harder to steal and probably slow down base runners who use the bag to turn etc.
And there is nothing more enjoyable to watch than a perfectly executed hook slide. Which would disappear entirely if the bases were flush.......
Would it be too much to ask in the new rule era that the Mariners make the playoffs 2 years in a row? I now.....it's crazy talk.....next thing you know I'll want the Blazers to actually have a chance to contend.
In all seriousness though, it's gotta tough to be a Blazers fan and watch an incredible talent like Lillard all these years, but no championship.
The toughest part about being a Blazers, Mariners, and Beavers fan is deciding which team to hate the most between the lakers, yankees, and ducks.
I get trying to speed up the game, but I hate the pitch clock and I hate the runner on second in extra innings.
Pitchers seem to hate the new balls which are great for homeruns with fast balls and changeups but sliders and curves are way less controllable.
