Anthony Rizzo generated some controversy with his takeout slide into Austin Hedges in the Padres-Cubs game Monday night.
Here is the view from the Padres:
“It’s a fairly egregious violation of the rule,” Padres manager Andy Green told Padres.com. “The rule exists to protect that catcher …. I think it’s a cheap shot. I’m not saying [Rizzo] is a dirty player at all. No one is saying that. But he clearly deviated from his path to hit our catcher and took our catcher out. The rule exists to protect him.”
And Rizzo on the slide:
“I went pretty much straight in,” Rizzo said. “He caught the ball and went toward the plate. It was a hard slide. I play this game hard for 162 games-plus, every day. I pride myself on it, running the bases hard, doing everything hard. I can’t see that being dirty …. I’ve talked to a lot of umpires about this rule. My understanding is if [the catcher has] the ball, it’s game on.”
I thought it was a late slide, but Rizzo didn’t seem to alter his path much. I’m sure Joe Torre will weigh in on this.
The Cubs won 3-2.
Update: MLB decided it was a rule violation. Since Rizzo was out, it didn’t matter for the play. We’ll see if there is any discipline. Craig Edwards has a very nice analysis of the play at FanGraphs.
In another video on MLB.com where the managers discuss the collision, it looks like Rizzo crosses the foul line right before sliding for whatever reason, so I can see where the Padres are coming from.
It seems to me if the rule is for player safety then players should be encouraged to avoid collisions which apparently isn’t Rizzo’s understanding.
Regardless, I wonder if Rizzo would appreciate a hard slide into first base on a pickoff or rundown once he has the ball.
He didnt take the lane that was open. Slam dunk violation. My guess is 3 games suspension
What about letting the catcher tag home plate for a force out if the runner has rounded third and is heading for home (at the umpire’s discretion.) Wouldn’t that be safer, simpler than the current rule, and wouldn’t really detract from the game?
Just Me » I don’t know. On the play, Rizzo could have made the decision to slide head first, with his left hand aiming for the far corner of the plate. Hedges was not really blocking the plate, he was more in front of it. With the head first reaching slide, Hedges would not have had that much to tag and might have missed. I would not want to take away that play.