You know, I really wanted to make my return post a happy balloon dance but unfortunately after tonight’s events that will not be the case. Of course I don’t have to write but I kinda feel like it so let’s go.
My favorite team the St. Louis Cardinals were beaten in a game of baseball tonight 9-0. And by beaten I mean p*ss pounded. Jake Westbrook was hammered and Pedro ‘Babe Ruth Ted Williams’ Alvarez continued to destroy Cardinals pitching for some unknown reason. Now the outcome of the game sucked but I’d be completely content with moving on to tomorrow with the series tied at 1 had that been the biggest storyline to come out of tonight. But it’s not.
Oh no, not at all. The biggest, bestest story to come out of tonight’s game was Yadier Molina getting barreled over at home plate by Pittsburgh’s Josh Harrison in the 2nd inning of a 1-0 game. Yadi of course left the game and was diagnosed with neck, back and shoulder pain or something like that. Concussion tests and x-rays were fortunately negative.
My point in writing this is not to recap the beating the Cardinals just took but to voice my opinion on the absurd fact that a baserunner in an attempt to reach home plate still has the option to lower his shoulder and destroy a defenseless catcher in order to do so. In almost any sport if you were to ask any given commissioner, chairman or high ranking individual representing that sport what their number 1 priority is they would more than likely say ‘safety of the players.’ Well Bud Selig may just drool but regardless he’d think it I suppose. And why? Because when the good players stay healthy the game thrives and people watch which in turn makes that given league more $$$$$$$$$.
When a league puts safety 1st it not only protects it’s players but also it’s product. Cutting to the chase with regards to tonight there is absolutely no reason Molina should have to try and catch a ball and apply a tag while having a grown man plow into him shoulder to head at full speed. That’s not hard nosed baseball it’s garbage. I mean look at the play! Molina is getting ready to try and tag the runner but instead the runner crushes Molina’s face with his shoulder!
I’m not quite sure why just because a catcher has a thin piece of foam on his chest and plastic shin guards on that the powers that be continue to think they can take full speed defenseless collisions. Absurd. Just like the morons last season who blamed Buster Posey for not being in a better position to absorb the collision and fall back.
For what it’s worth deep down I don’t completely blame Harrison. It’s the game’s fault for giving him the option of barreling into the catcher. And if a goober so called ‘baseball purist’ tries to argue that collisions at the plate are part of the game I’ll punch them right in the eye. In 1920 players weren’t 3 percent body fat build like tanks. Athletes are way more evolved.
In closing I understand that there’s 2 sides to every argument but if you honestly think defenseless catchers getting destroyed at the plate is just good baseball then, well, I bid you adieu.
