Anthony Rizzo should be suspended for that hit at the plate
Channel: Flash video
Date: 2017-06-20

If Major League Baseball is serious about enforcing its rule meant to protect catchers in collisions at the plate, then Anthony Rizzo would be suspended today.

I don’t expect it to happen. MLB, to my knowledge, hasn’t enforced that rule beyond calling out a runner who crashes into a catcher. But if baseball wanted to make a point, then Rizzo would be told to sit for a game after bowling over Padres catcher Austin Hedges in the bottom of the sixth inning Monday night.
On the play, Rizzo tagged from third on Kris Bryant’s one-out sinking liner to center. Charging Padres center fielder Matt Szczur unleashed and an excellent throw to Hedges well ahead of Rizzo’s attempt to score. As Rizzo bore down on the plate, Hedges took the throw and planted himself inside the baseline, preparing to apply the tag and appearing to expect Rizzo to slide by, which is the choreography generally dictated by MLB’s rule change.

Instead, Rizzo took several strides out of his route to end up inside the baseline and slam into Hedges. That’s instinct. That’s what any baserunner would do naturally. That’s also against the rule intended to protect catchers in such cases.

Padres manager Andy Green considered Rizzo’s move a “cheap shot,’’  and he’s allowed to have his say. But if Green was talking motivation, as if Rizzo has a dirty reputation and intended to injure Hedges, then the Padres manager is wrong.

That’s not Rizzo. Nobody has more fun playing the game. The joy Rizzo shows regularly in playing baseball at the highest of levels makes you smile. His profile has never included a sniff of malicious play. I don’t believe for a second that Rizzo intended to hurt Hedges, just knock the ball loose.

“I'm not saying (Rizzo) is a dirty player at all,’’ Green said. “Nobody is saying that. But he clearly deviated from the path to hit our catcher.’’

Green has that part right, at least in my repeated viewings. Rizzo slammed into Hedges with his left knee and left elbow when the path to the plate appeared open enough for both players to execute their missions without risking a concussion or any other injury.

Rizzo knocked the catcher through the left-handed batter’s box, injuring Hedges enough to put him out of the game, which was exactly the result the rule was trying eliminate. MLB was pretty clear about the rule change and why. It was in all the newspapers.

Rizzo believes he “went pretty much went straight in,’’ which would mean he had the wrong path all along, and then Rizzo threw some blame on Hedges.

“It’s a play where I’m out by two steps,’’ Rizzo said. “I slide, he runs into me. It’s one of those plays it’s unfortunate he exited.’’

Cubs manager Joe Maddon said it’s just “part of the game’’ and it used to be, but MLB has had this rule expressly to prevent such things.

“The catcher is in the way, you hit him,’’ Maddon said. “It's very simple."

Indeed, it’s very simple: Maddon’s wrong. Hedges wasn’t in the way. He was inside the baseline, where he should be. Maddon’s player was inside the baseline, where he shouldn’t be. Maddon’s player must run toward the plate. Maddon’s player ran at the catcher, who was not blocking the plate. Ballgame.

Now, what will MLB do about the safety of the players it has yammered on about wanting to protect? If there’s no suspension, then why does the rule exist?