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Sunday, June 15, 2008

AP: Cardinals catcher removed on stretcher in neck brace

Like several teammates, LaRue was impressed that [Yadier] Molina apparently avoided serious injury after being taken off the field on a body board with a brace around his neck, and that Molina held onto the ball for an important ninth-inning out in Sunday’s 7-6, 10-inning victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.
...
Molina was taken to a hospital for evaluation of neck and back pain and sustained a mild concussion, although he did not lose consciousness after the collision with Phillies pinch runner Eric Bruntlett, team spokesman Brian Bartow said. All test results were negative, the team said in a release, although Molina was to be held overnight as a precaution.
...
Molina had to reach back for a one-hop throw from first baseman Chris Duncan, who had been playing in when he fielded Phillies star Jimmy Rollins’ bad-hop grounder, and his back was to the plate as he gloved the ball. As he was turning to make the tag for the second out of the inning in a game tied at 6, Molina was drilled by Bruntlett running from third base.
...
Molina showed umpire Tim McClelland he still had the ball, holding it in his right hand, before collapsing in front of the plate.

NTNgod Posted: June 15, 2008 at 08:57 PM | 39 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
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1. rLr Is King Of The Romans And Above Grammar Posted: June 15, 2008 at 09:01 PM (#2820605)

Suddenly, Tiger Wang's injury doesn't look quite so bad.

2. North Side Chicago Expatriate Giants Fan Posted: June 15, 2008 at 09:04 PM (#2820609)

Ouch.

3. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: June 15, 2008 at 09:08 PM (#2820613)

That's terrible.

4. Alex meets the threshold for granular review Posted: June 15, 2008 at 09:22 PM (#2820638)

Molina showed plate umpire Tim McClelland he still had the ball, holding it in his right hand, before collapsing in front of the plate.

Gamer!

5. danup Posted: June 15, 2008 at 09:25 PM (#2820643)

Yadi is the grittiest scrapper who ever did hustle. If my neck was being stretched across the length of home plate my first thought would not be, "Am I still going to record this out?"

6. rLr Is King Of The Romans And Above Grammar Posted: June 15, 2008 at 09:32 PM (#2820652)

Yadi is the grittiest scrapper who ever did hustle. If my neck was being stretched across the length of home plate my first thought would not be, "Am I still going to record this out?"

That's why you work the Fry-O-Lator and he's a professional baseball player.

7. danup Posted: June 15, 2008 at 09:35 PM (#2820657)

Now that's unfair, I only wish I worked the Fry-O-Lator.

8. Gamingboy Posted: June 15, 2008 at 09:36 PM (#2820660)

Molina showed plate umpire Tim McClelland he still had the ball, holding it in his right hand, before collapsing in front of the plate.

DAMN! That may be the most badass thing I have ever read on Baseball.

Have a quick recovery Yadier, and know that this has placed you on the heights of Baseball toughness.

9. walt williams bobblehead Posted: June 15, 2008 at 09:42 PM (#2820670)

Any Molina would have done the same.

10. jwb Posted: June 15, 2008 at 09:48 PM (#2820680)

I'm seeing Alfred, with a little Chinese guy throwing firecrackers. . .

11. aleskel

Posted: June 15, 2008 at 10:03 PM (#2820724)

that's right up there with that Astros game a few weeks back when Valverde took a liner off his face, then stayed in to finish the inning. That was badass.

12. PASTE is not impressed by Albert Pujols (Zeth) Posted: June 15, 2008 at 10:30 PM (#2820751)

He did not appear to be moving as the cart left the field.

Bryan Alsworth's comment upon hearing this was, "Molinas generally don't move anyway. I don't see how that's a diagnosis of anything."

13. Russlan will never be fond of Jason Bay Posted: June 15, 2008 at 10:34 PM (#2820758)

Molina showed plate umpire Tim McClelland he still had the ball, holding it in his right hand, before collapsing in front of the plate.

That's hockey guy tough.

14. Gamingboy Posted: June 16, 2008 at 12:03 AM (#2820844)

Alfred Molina would have grabbed the ball with one of the mechanical tentacles welded into his body, using the other one to ensnare Bruntlett to use as a hostage against Tobey Maguire.

15. Daryn Posted: June 16, 2008 at 12:08 AM (#2820845)

He's no Buck Martinez.

16. akrasian Posted: June 16, 2008 at 12:22 AM (#2820857)

Good news, btw. Bernie Miklasz is reporting that it's a mild concussion. Molina will be kept in the hospital overnight to make certain.

Bernie Miklasz's Pressbox

17. Rafael Bellylard: Built like a Molina Posted: June 16, 2008 at 12:54 AM (#2820872)

I'd like to give a little love to the Cardinal fans. I looked around a bit and didn't see a negative comment about the Phillie baserunner who plowed into Molina. I thought it was a hard, clean play that was caused by a poor throw, rather than poor catching or over-aggressive baserunning.

18. Guts

Posted: June 16, 2008 at 12:56 AM (#2820876)

I thought it was a hard, clean play that was caused by a poor throw, rather than poor catching or over-aggressive baserunning.

No one on the Cardinals side, not even TLR, is blaming Bruntlett - it wasn't his fault. We'd rather blame Chris Duncan anyway.

19. Forsch 10 From Navarone (Dayn)

Posted: June 16, 2008 at 01:34 AM (#2820898)

Was watching the game when this happened. Scary, scary injury and one hell of a play by Yadi. The replay would make you think severe concussion, but I feared neck injury. Thank God it doesn't appear to be that. Get well soon.

Oh, and not a dirty play at all.

20. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: June 16, 2008 at 01:57 AM (#2820917)

It was dirty, but I think all plays where guys attempt to run over the catcher are dirty.

21. PASTE is not impressed by Albert Pujols (Zeth) Posted: June 16, 2008 at 02:05 AM (#2820923)

Sooner or later somebody's going to break some catcher's neck and leave him paralyzed, and then baseball will finally outlaw the home plate collision. Hell, the NFL doesn't even allow its players to lay hits on defenseless opponents, which is what happens sometimes at plate collisions.

The moral of the story, which I think we've all learned the past few years: Uncle Bud's Baseball doesn't do anything until an outraged media firestorm forces them to.

22. Justin T contains indigenous nudity Posted: June 16, 2008 at 02:13 AM (#2820925)

Molina showed umpire Tim McClelland he still had the ball, holding it in his right hand, before collapsing in front of the plate.

Thanks to this overdramatization, the replay I just watched was a little underwhelming. He's lying there, already plowed into the ground, and lifts his forearm up 6 inches with the ball still in his hand. The quote makes it sound more WWE-ish.

Great play and incredibly tough for him to hold on, full marks for that, but come on.

23. BeanoCook Posted: June 16, 2008 at 02:23 AM (#2820930)

20. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: June 15, 2008 at 10:57 PM (#2820917)
It was dirty, but I think all plays where guys attempt to run over the catcher are dirty.
21. Justin Zeth, dog Posted: June 15, 2008 at 11:05 PM (#2820923)
Sooner or later somebody's going to break some catcher's neck and leave him paralyzed, and then baseball will finally outlaw the home plate collision. Hell, the NFL doesn't even allow its players to lay hits on defenseless opponents, which is what happens sometimes at plate collisions.

The moral of the story, which I think we've all learned the past few years: Uncle Bud's Baseball doesn't do anything until an outraged media firestorm forces them to.

Great thread until #20 & #21. Fun-haters!

24. Forsch 10 From Navarone (Dayn)

Posted: June 16, 2008 at 02:31 AM (#2820935)

Hell, the NFL doesn't even allow its players to lay hits on defenseless opponents, which is what happens sometimes at plate collisions.

Blind-side sacks, hits on receivers running crossing routes, crack-back blocks on kickoffs ... I'd say those qualify. Then again, I hate the NFL, so perhaps I'm biased.

25. RJ in TO Posted: June 16, 2008 at 02:49 AM (#2820946)

Blind-side sacks, hits on receivers running crossing routes, crack-back blocks on kickoffs ... I'd say those qualify.

Don't forget that in the majority of cases of someone hitting a defenceless opponent, the worst case penalty is 15 yards. Given that a guy can take his opponent out of the game/season, this doesn't really seem like a significant deterrent. The equivalent in baseball would be something like "Okay, so you killed the catcher. How about in your next at bat, we start it at an 0-1 count."

The NFL is really only interested in protecting QBs (and starting QBs at that). Everyone else can get crippled, and the league doesn't particularly seem to care.

Note: And I have this view while actually being a fan of the league.

26. PASTE is not impressed by Albert Pujols (Zeth) Posted: June 16, 2008 at 02:54 AM (#2820949)

Oh, no, don't forget, they also fine guys that lay on dirty hits as much as $75,000, or roughly what the average NFL player spends per month on the guys that keep his cars shiny.

Yeah, I know the NFL ain't serious about it, but at least they have a theoretical rule that says hey, you can't do that. That MLB players are allowed to get a nice 90 foot running start and cream the catcher, who is often not ready for the impact, mystifies me. Not saying I hate it as a spectator. Me, I'd say let 'em run each other over on all the bases. But somebody's going to get badly hurt sooner or later, and then they'll outlaw it.

27. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: June 16, 2008 at 02:55 AM (#2820950)

The NFL is really only interested in protecting QBs (and starting QBs at that). Everyone else can get crippled, and the league doesn't particularly seem to care.

Well, considering quarterbacks are the only players on the field who are regularly, ferociously and legally hit from behind by players much larger than them, while in a stationary position not the least bit suitable for self preservation, the NFL damn well ought to do more to protect its quarterbacks than it does other players.

28. El Hijo del Ron Santo (Alan Keiper) Posted: June 16, 2008 at 03:01 AM (#2820952)

This wasn't a case of a player running over a catcher with the ball in hand, or a catcher blocking the plate without the ball. It was bang-bang. I think home plate collisions are getting out of hand, but this wasn't a case of that.

29. RJ in TO Posted: June 16, 2008 at 03:02 AM (#2820953)

Well, considering quarterbacks are the only players on the field who are regularly, ferociously and legally hit from behind by players much larger than them, while in a stationary position not the least bit suitable for self preservation, the NFL damn well ought to do more to protect its quarterbacks than it does other players.

I agree that they should protect them, but the degree of protection is at best minimal. Kill a QB? Not a helmet to helmet? 15 yards, my good man. Please take your place in the 4-3.

30. RJ in TO Posted: June 16, 2008 at 03:04 AM (#2820954)

That MLB players are allowed to get a nice 90 foot running start and cream the catcher, who is often not ready for the impact, mystifies me.

I realise that this wasn't the case today, but most of the absolute monster hits that I've seen catchers absorb over the years have been the result of illegally blocking the plate. If you start enforcing the rules on that, then most of the issue goes away.

Today, there wasn't really anything that could have been done to avoid the hit other than Bruntlett pulling up and conceeding the out. I don't think that would have gone over particularly well.

31. Charter Member of the Jesus Melendez Fanclub Posted: June 16, 2008 at 03:15 AM (#2820957)

That MLB players are allowed to get a nice 90 foot running start and cream the catcher, who is often not ready for the impact, mystifies me.

If they're not ready for impact, they shouldn't be in the baseline. You seem easily mystified.

32. Ben V-L Posted: June 16, 2008 at 06:07 AM (#2821074)

Rule 7.06:

The catcher, without the ball in his possession, has no right to block the pathway of the runner attempting to score. The base line belongs to the runner and the catcher should be there only when he is fielding a ball or when he already has the ball in his hand.

A literal reading of the rule says that a catcher must always catch the ball first, and then move into the basepath. That rule is certainly not enforced.

33. PASTE is not impressed by Albert Pujols (Zeth) Posted: June 16, 2008 at 06:34 AM (#2821079)

Good, then any time there's a collision, the runner should be ruled safe by merit of interference, right?

No, I know we're now discussing the situation where the ball arrives well before the runner, and the catcher has the ball and is waiting for him. Well... why's a better allowed to drill the catcher in that situation, but not, say, the second baseman?

Actually, maybe he is allowed to drill the second baseman, but second basemen are smart enough to move out of the way while applying a tag, I don't know. It always seemed to me like it would be quite simple for a catcher, receiving the ball well before the runner arrives, to step aside and just touch the runner with his glove. But I guess that's not the manly thing to do.

34. jwb Posted: June 16, 2008 at 06:34 AM (#2821080)

Any reading of the rule says that a catcher must always catch the ball first, and then move into the basepath. Any idea when this changed? For example, on the cover of James' New Historical, Cochrane has the ball and is diving into the basepath.

35. Vaux, A.B.D. Posted: June 16, 2008 at 08:00 AM (#2821086)

It says the catcher must be fielding the ball. If he's set up to catch the ball, and a throw is obviously about to be made or has been made, he's fielding the ball.

36. The Marksist Posted: June 16, 2008 at 12:29 PM (#2821156)

Actually, maybe he is allowed to drill the second baseman, but second basemen are smart enough to move out of the way while applying a tag, I don't know. It always seemed to me like it would be quite simple for a catcher, receiving the ball well before the runner arrives, to step aside and just touch the runner with his glove. But I guess that's not the manly thing to do.

+1

It always seemed to me that it would be good policy for the catcher to take a page out of the matador playbook: "Come and get me Mr. Baserunner... Ole! Gotcha! ... Silly baserunner."

37. Bull Pain Posted: June 16, 2008 at 12:38 PM (#2821163)

There's also the cases of Jamie Burke and Johnny Estrada who stood directly in front of the plate (the closest part of the dirt to the pitcher's mound) as the ball came in, providing a nearly clean path for the runner, only to take a flying forearm to the head from Torii Hunter/Darin Erstad and get seriously injured. The catchers didn't get any protection there and the runners were called safe despite the interference, so it's hard to see why catchers should change their ways until the rules are properly enforced.

38. Slinger Francisco Barrios (Dr. Memory) Posted: June 16, 2008 at 12:58 PM (#2821176)

Stuff like this puts me in mind of the time I saw Al Nipper (I think it was) take a sharp one-hopper right to the cup, scramble to get it and throw to first, then collapse in helpless agony. It was hilarious.

39. Slinger Francisco Barrios (Dr. Memory) Posted: June 16, 2008 at 01:00 PM (#2821178)

Actually, maybe he is allowed to drill the second baseman, but second basemen are smart enough to move out of the way while applying a tag, I don't know.

They've solved that by second basemen not actually having to tag either the runner or the base, as the case may be. Not a satisfactory solution, IMO.

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AP: Cardinals catcher removed on stretcher in neck brace

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