Even with home plate rule working in their favor, Cubs still searching for clarity

Share

This home plate rule will not fade silently into the background.

At least not with the Cubs.

The "Buster Posey Rule," as it's become known as over the last few years has been a big point of contention around Major League Baseball.

Recently, the Cubs have been right in the middle of that with two separate variations on the play, both of which benefitted the team.

Anthony Rizzo deviated from his path toward home plate on Memorial Day last week, taking out Pirates catcher Elias Diaz with a slide to break up a double play and help push a pair of Cubs runs across.

On the field, Rizzo's slide was ruled legal and later upheld by replay. But the following day, MLB actually announced they were wrong in ruling Rizzo's slide legal.

Thursday afternoon at Wrigley Field, the Cubs were once again gifted a run due to a controversial play at the plate. As Rizzo lifted a fly ball into left field, Albert Almora Jr. tagged from third base and tried to slide in for the Cubs' fourth run of the game.

A phenomenal throw from Phillies outfielder Dylan Cozens and a great tag and block by catcher Andrew Knapp prevented Almora from scoring initially.

The play went to review, where the umpiring crew ruled Knapp was blocking the plate before the ball arrived, thus not giving Almora a lane to slide.

As a result, Almora was ruled safe and the Cubs wound up winning the game - and the series - by a solo tally.

"It was a great play," Joe Maddon said. "Great throw, great play by the catcher. Technically, the catcher did a great job. Fortunately, the rule permitted the run and we'll take it."

So all's well that ends well, right?

Not so fast.

The Cubs are happy to have the run - and the win - of course, but they're still scratching their heads wondering what to do on those close plays at the plate.

"The rule's super unclear," Almora said. "I want to be safe, I don't want to be a dirty player and he wants to prevent a run."

Almora actually believes the runner is now in more danger than the catcher given there is supposed to be essentially zero contact between the two. Nobody's going to be plowing over catchers and getting away with it anytime soon.

On the play, Almora is seen extending his arm right into the shin guard of Knapp, which could spell doom for fingers or hands or wrists moving forward.

But players don't want to slide in feet first now and potentially hurt the catchers with their spikes.

Things have progressed to where these plays and hazy rules are in the heads of baserunners as they barrel down toward home plate from third base.

"I had the chance to hit him," Almora said. "But you don't want to. You don't want to be labeled as that guy. You want to be a fair player. You don't want to get hurt, you don't want to hurt anybody.

"It's an unfortunate rule; it's still very blurry. I just hope they really clear it up soon before someone gets hurt."

Cubs veteran catcher Chris Gimenez is nearing a decade in the big leagues and he has no idea what to do in either position, as catcher or baserunner.

Gimenez said the last thing a catcher's thinking with the ball coming in is if his leg or body is too far in front of the plate, preventing a lane for the runner.

At the same time, Gimenez has been caught too far off the plate in an effort to adhere to the rule and wound up letting runs score as guys dive in the back part of the plate.

But maybe Thursday afternoon will be part of the learning experience moving forward.

"It's just a sensitive subject," Rizzo said. "...I'm happy they overturned it. In my opinion, I think a lot more need to be overturned so guys have a better lane to slide. It's just one of those plays that's difficult."

Contact Us