Clean slide by Cowgill.

This is all Brandon Belt's fault.

I've got a fever...

This proves that some basic part of the game should be illegal or something.

Video. The helmet actually comes off before Cowgill hits him, not that that's really any better...

Seemed like a clean slide. His head did come up, but seemed unintentional.

Was that the proper place for Lincecum to set up? He's kind of straddling the plate, but is not in front of the plate. If he's going to block the plate, that's one thing, but setting up where he did left him vulnerable to just the very injury that occurred without actually having the benefit of blocking the plate.

I would have preferred he just set up adjacent the plate and go for the sweep tag.

This proves that some basic part of the game should be illegal or something.

Well, as someone who has been pretty adamant about getting rid of the intentional collisions at home, I'd say this is an example that sometimes collisions just happen. Clean cover by Lincecum, clean slide by Cowgill, unfortunate meeting.

Edit: I'd agree with Ray that Lincecum would have been safer had he set up in front of the plate and tried to sweep, but the location where he did set up should always be allowed.

This proves that some basic part of the game should be illegal or something.

Agreed, the part where someone has actually been killed.

T-Ball from now on!!

Was that the proper place for Lincecum to set up?

I was always taught that you should stop a couple feet before getting to the plate and then apply a sweep tag as the runner comes in. This is easier for RHP than LHP because the righty can still see the whole play in front of him whereas the lefty will sort of have his back to the runner. Basically, righty or lefty, you want your glove side closest to the plate to apply the tag easily and keep the rest of your body out of harm's way.

No question that Lincecum was set up all wrong. Watching this happen I was shocked he wasn't hurt worse. This was like Daniel Murphy at second base, cubed. But he's a pitcher, and he's tiny, so he probably doesn't have much experience with plays like this.

Cowgill scored from second on this WP, by the way. Posey lost the ball. This probably added a bit to the confusion.

Sliding into the plate head first seems like a bad idea, no matter if it's the pitcher or the catcher covering.

I just watched the video from behind home plate. Cowgill ignored his third-base coach when he made the dash for home. (To be fair, Gallego had his back to the action.)

But he's a pitcher, and he's tiny, so he probably doesn't have much experience with plays like this.

I have a hard time accepting this, I guess. A professional pitcher doesn't have much experience covering home plate? It has to be one of the most common non-pitching events a pitcher can be involved in.

A Repoz Intro I understood!

Clean play. Not a place that a fielder should be standing if he doesn't have pads on (but I hope he's all right, of course).

I was always taught that you should stop a couple feet before getting to the plate and then apply a sweep tag as the runner comes in. This is easier for RHP than LHP because the righty can still see the whole play in front of him whereas the lefty will sort of have his back to the runner. Basically, righty or lefty, you want your glove side closest to the plate to apply the tag easily and keep the rest of your body out of harm's way.

It was a wild pitch, so he was taking the throw from behind the plate. He probably should have set up how you're describing a lefty, with his back to the runner. Would have been a tougher play, to catch the ball and make a blind swipe tag, but he would have been a lot safer (and probably gotten the out, the throw beat the runner).

It was a wild pitch, so he was taking the throw from behind the plate. He probably should have set up how you're describing a lefty, with his back to the runner.

No, you still set up in front of the plate as a RHP. A thrown ball travels much faster than your arm can make a swipe tag; let the ball come to you. The only risk with that position is if it's a bang-bang play and the ball hits the runner. But in that case, you probably wouldn't have made the out anyway.

I just watched the video from behind home plate. Cowgill ignored his third-base coach when he made the dash for home.

Yeah, that was pretty awesome. Great, smart hustle play by Cowgill to recognize how lost Posey was and have the balls to take advantage of the situation.

I wonder if Lincecum would have come out of the game if he had been having a better start. He had gone 4 IP with 5 H, 3 BB and 4 ER allowed, throwing 90 pitches. He was having a crappy start. He finished the inning, so he could still pitch it seems. If he was in the middle of 4 IP, 1 ER, 6K with a lower pitch count maybe he doesn't get pulled.

No, you still set up in front of the plate as a RHP. A thrown ball travels much faster than your arm can make a swipe tag; let the ball come to you.

Totally agree about the ball-speed thing, of course. But as I imagine that in my mind, the tag strikes me as rather awkward when you set up that way. You're changing the direction of the ball. In general you're better off going with the ball, which would mean for PB/WP you're often better off behind the plate irrespective of handedness.

Also, you can't have a set place to set up come hell or high water. You have to at least somewhat take into account where the throw is coming from.

That guy looks like Sawyer from 'LOST'....

Totally agree about the ball-speed thing, of course. But as I imagine that in my mind, the tag strikes me as rather awkward when you set up that way. You're changing the direction of the ball.

As a RHP (which I am), the ideal setup is for you to be facing home plate. A line drawn from one shoulder to the other would be parallel to the third base line. Then when you receive the ball, the tag is applied either straight down (if the runner is close) or with a swipe (if the runner is going for the back of home plate).

The problem with setting up behind the plate is that you will rarely have enough time to get there and get set before the runner arrives. The runner is (a) almost certainly faster and a better athlete than you are and (b) already has some momentum towards home from his secondary lead. Most plays at the plate following PBs/WPs are therefore very close, and the pitcher is catching the ball as he arrives at home. It's not like a steal of second base where the infielder has enough time to set up where he wants and can make a nice, clean tag if the throw is accurate.

Basically, however you set up the main thing is that you want to concede the pathway to the plate so the runner is not inclined to barrel into you. Don't give the guy a reason to ring your bell.

I wonder if Lincecum would have come out of the game if he had been having a better start. He had gone 4 IP with 5 H, 3 BB and 4 ER allowed, throwing 90 pitches. He was having a crappy start. He finished the inning, so he could still pitch it seems. If he was in the middle of 4 IP, 1 ER, 6K with a lower pitch count maybe he doesn't get pulled.

This is interesting. Bochy pinch-hit for Lincecum in the bottom of the fourth with two out and a man on first but allowed his replacement, Shane Loux, to bat with two out and no one on in the sixth. And wouldn't you know: Loux gave up a two-run home run to Reddick moments later.

Most plays at the plate following PBs/WPs are therefore very close

That's a good point I didn't think of.

Basically, however you set up the main thing is that you want to concede the pathway to the plate

Plus the path beyond. Imagine if he doesn't slide...yikes. Another reason to do it your way.