Welcome to Behind the Plate With DJ, a weekly look at what is going on in the world of baseball. This series will weigh in on the interesting, the controversial, and the downright cool. The play of the week could be an incredible play or an unusual one. If something made you scratch your head, you will probably find it here. So sit back, relax, and let’s take a look at the week that was.
Opening Day
Opening Day is upon us. The annual rite of spring where the eternal optimism of a baseball fan is in full force. Every team is tied for first place. Teams that made big splashes in the off-season (we are looking at you, Red Sox, Giants, and Diamondbacks) and teams involved with a youth movement (Brewers, Phillies, Braves) are all the same distance from playoff baseball.
The season kicks off on Sunday with the Pirates playing host to the Cardinals at 1:05 pm. The Blue Jays travel to Tampa to take on the Rays at 4:05, then the Mets and Royals face off in a World Series rematch at 8:37. In a weird quirk, the Cubs and the Angels will play their last Spring Training game in Anaheim at 3:05 on Sunday before their Opening Day tilt on Monday at 10:05 pm.
The rest of the league opens their season on Monday, a day in which many students and employees will be missing. Just a heads up, if you are looking for them, check the stadium. And while you are there, grab a burger, brat, beer (soft drink if you are under 21), and enjoy a ballgame.
Opening Day is a holiday for baseball fans. The outcome does not matter as much, as long as baseball is back. After six weeks working out in Florida and Arizona, they are playing for real. The road to the World Series starts on Opening Day.
New slide rule
There were several plays late last season that caused MLB to look at the rule addressing a runner breaking up a double play. The two most severe examples involved major injuries that changed the playoff picture.
On September 17, with the Pirates ahead of the Cubs by two games in the Wild Card race, Cubs outfielder Chris Coghlan slid late to break up a double play. Pirates shortstop Jung Ho Kang ended up with a torn MCL and a broken bone in his knee, ending his season. The slide was legal and nobody in the Pirate dugout considered it anything but a hard slide to break up a double play.
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On October 10, in the seventh inning of Game 2 of the NLDS, Dodgers pinch hitter Chase Utley slid hard and late into Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada. Tejada’s postseason was over with a broken leg. To make matters worse for the Mets, not only did they lose their shortstop, but the play was reversed after review. The umpires ruled that the throw took Tejada off the bag and Utley, even though he never touched the base, was awarded second base. The Dodgers scored four runs in the inning and won the game by a score of 5-2.
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Both of these plays were legal under the rules in place last season. Coghlan’s slide was not considered to be dirty, but Utley’s was. In Utley’s case, he did not appear to make an attempt at touching the base, but Tejada turned in a way that Utley could not have anticipated.
Because of these and other slides last season, MLB revisited the rule and made some changes.
Rule 6.01(j) — Sliding to Bases on Double Play Attempts
If a runner does not engage in a bona fide slide, and initiates (or attempts to make) contact with the fielder for the purpose of breaking up a double play, he should be called for interference under this Rule 6.01. A “bona fide slide” for purposes of Rule 6.01 occurs when the runner:
(1) begins his slide (i.e., makes contact with the ground) before reaching the base;
(2) is able and attempts to reach the base with his hand or foot;
(3) is able and attempts to remain on the base (except home plate) after completion of the slide; and
(4) slides within reach of the base without changing his pathway for the purpose of initiating contact with a fielder.
MLB Press Release
A runner who does not have a bona fide slide will be called out, as well as the batter. The slide is also subject to replay review. This rule ensures that the runner will start his slide before making contact with the defender and he will also attempt to reach and remain on the base at the end of his slide. These changes should cut down on injuries that occur when a runner breaks up a double play.
The rules have come a long way since the 70s. Hal McRae had a couple of great examples of hard slides from that time period. See for yourself.
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Play of the week
This week’s play of the week is your typical 4-3-2-3 putout. For those of you who do not keep score at home, that is second baseman to first baseman to catcher to first baseman to get the out. And no, there was no rundown involved. Take a look and see for yourself.
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Series to watch
The Mets travel to Kansas City to face the Royals in a rematch of the 2015 World Series. The two-game series starts on Opening Night and continues on Tuesday after a day off. Both teams were able to keep the core of their team together.
The Mets pitching staff still includes Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, and Steven Matz, and they should be one of the best rotations in the Major Leagues. Their biggest addition is Neil Walker at second base. The Mets are starting the defense of their NL pennant against the team that beat them in the World Series. You can bet that they will come out charging.
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The Royals are the defending World Series champs and the two-time defending AL pennant winner. Lorenzo Cain, Mike Moustakas, Alcides Escobar, Eric Hosmer, and Salvador Perez are all returning looking for another pennant and another World Series ring. They signed Ian Kennedy to bolster their pitching staff, which already included Edinson Volquez and Yordano Ventura.
The Royals will receive their World Series rings on Tuesday before the game, which will only add to the hunger of the Mets.