One of the best gifs. I will always star this.

What is everyone's opinion on this slide by Rizzo in the Cubs-Pirates game?

Rizzo didn't need to slide that far in front of the plate. It seemed like he was going for the catchers legs. Should have been a double play IMO.

I thought it was crap and he should be reprimanded. That's an intentionally dirty play that can end someone's season. Like mathguy said, if that kinda play was made at 2nd he would have been ruled out.

Edit: thought about it more. Response below.

Plus, the catcher did everything he could to get out of the path of baserunner and clear of home plate. It would have been different if he camped out on top of the plate or something.

wow, that is complete horse ***** i'm surprised the Pirates didn't come out of the dug out swinging.

It was crap and the rule needs to be changed. I'm all for going hard on a bang bang play at the plate but a force out? That could have ended the catcher's season.

That isn't old school baseball. That's cheap and dirty. No other way around it.

AgDoc03 said:

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I thought it was crap and he should be reprimanded. That's an intentionally dirty play that can end someone's season. Like mathguy said, if that kinda play was made at 2nd he would have been ruled out.

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If that was made at second, it would have been fine. He never slid past the plate and he didn't leave the basepath.

I think by the letter of the law, it was legal. But it's a bad look on the sport for not protecting a defenseless catcher on a play that could have easily injured him badly.

I don't think Rizzo was trying to be dirty, but the league needs to review the rules to prevent this in the future.

Just watched an MLB tonight video about the whole thing. Eric Byrnes is a meathead.

titanmaster_race said:

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AgDoc03 said:

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I thought it was crap and he should be reprimanded. That's an intentionally dirty play that can end someone's season. Like mathguy said, if that kinda play was made at 2nd he would have been ruled out.

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If that was made at second, it would have been fine. He never slid past the plate and he didn't leave the basepath.

I think by the letter of the law, it was legal. But it's a bad look on the sport for not protecting a defenseless catcher on a play that could have easily injured him badly.

I don't think Rizzo was trying to be dirty, but the league needs to review the rules to prevent this in the future.

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Thats where I think you are wrong. Maybe he wasnt trying to be "dirty"... but he was definitely trying to make a hard slide and influence the throw by creating contact. In his mind and many old-school type players that isn't dirty. By today's standards, purposeful, hard contact is more often than not viewed as unnecessary and therefore dirty.

Ag_07 said:

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Quote:

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I don't think Rizzo was trying to be dirty

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The only reason you slide that far out in front of home with your feet out to the side is to take the guy out.

If he wanted to play it correctly he would've just slid into home with his feet out towards the plate and give the guy something to think about/make it a tough play. Instead he went for the legs.

I think he had every intention of taking out the legs of that catcher and that's dirty.

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Exactly. With the force in play, no way that slide is necessary.

titanmaster_race said:

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AgDoc03 said:

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I thought it was crap and he should be reprimanded. That's an intentionally dirty play that can end someone's season. Like mathguy said, if that kinda play was made at 2nd he would have been ruled out.

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If that was made at second, it would have been fine. He never slid past the plate and he didn't leave the basepath.

I think by the letter of the law, it was legal. But it's a bad look on the sport for not protecting a defenseless catcher on a play that could have easily injured him badly.

I don't think Rizzo was trying to be dirty, but the league needs to review the rules to prevent this in the future.

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He may not have left the basepath, buy you can clearly see him running right on top of the foul line and then veer toward the catcher a few steps before home plate. I mean, his body ended up sliding to the left of the base and he covered the plate with his right hand. I think that's where my issue is with the whole deal. In my opinion, he wasn't really sliding into the base.

Maybe legal by the letter of the law, but the catcher did everything he could to get out of the way of Rizzo to abide by the law and was not rewarded.

By the way, not really arguing with you, just thought it was a crappy play.

titanmaster_race said:

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Just watched an MLB tonight video about the whole thing. Eric Byrnes is a meathead.

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I didn't watch the video with sound - plan on doing that tonight after work. What did Eric say?

So do they throw at him tonight? If so does the pitcher get immediately ejected

The Milkman said:

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So do they throw at him tonight? If so does the pitcher get immediately ejected

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Yes and yes.

MLB has come out said it should have been called interference.

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/23642672/mlb-believes-anthony-rizzo-slide-vs-pittsburgh-pirates-was-interference

Ag_07 said:

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Quote:

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I don't think Rizzo was trying to be dirty

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The only reason you slide that far out in front of home with your feet out to the side is to take the guy out.

If he wanted to play it correctly he would've just slid into home with his feet out towards the plate and give the guy something to think about/make it a tough play. Instead he went for the legs.

I think he had every intention of taking out the legs of that catcher and that's dirty.

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Of course he had intentions of making contact with the catcher. His job is to break up the double play.

It's within the laws of the game so I don't think it was dirty.
And I don't think Rizzo was trying to injure the guy. I think he was just trying to do his job, which was to break up the double play.

But I do think rules should be changed so that that play isn't within the laws of the game. The catcher was completely defenseless.

The Milkman said:

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So do they throw at him tonight? If so does the pitcher get immediately ejected

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He came back to the plate after the incident yesterday. They didn't throw at him then.

Not sure why it would bleed over to today if they didn't retaliate yesterday.

I see what you're saying.

In the end though it wasn't within the laws of the game and to me it was obvious it wasn't. Not sure how the umps managed to not call that after review.

I wouldn't be upset if Rizzo wore on in the ribs tonight.

Beat40 said:

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titanmaster_race said:

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Just watched an MLB tonight video about the whole thing. Eric Byrnes is a meathead.

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I didn't watch the video with sound - plan on doing that tonight after work. What did Eric say?

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Not so much what he said, but how he said it. His whole demeanor....

So you dont think its possible for it to be both dirty and within the rules?

Yeah I wonder if MLB released a statement today saying it was obstruction just to get out in front of the whole debacle. If they don't say the review yesterday was wrong, then it's open season on catchers.

I think yesterday they looked at the replay and saw him get to the plate without having to change direction after the impact. His whole torso was on top of the plate, so I don't think you can say he was out of the basepath.

The Milkman said:

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So you dont think its possible for it to be both dirty and within the rules?

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Poor choice of words on my part.

A play can be dirty and be within the rules. I just don't think Rizzo was intentionally trying to hurt the guy in this instance. Intentionally trying to impact the play? Yes. Hurt? No.

He wasn't gentle, but I don't think he was malicious either.

Definitely think Correa needed a night off to recalibrate.

I like this line up - pretty solid 1-6 and 8 & 9 hitters can set the table for George.

Correa sitting?

titanmaster_race said:

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His whole torso was on top of the plate, so I don't think you can say he was out of the basepath.

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We'll just have to disagree on this one. Because I think he was clearly out of the basepath.

Think of it this way...Was the catcher in the basepath?

But this brings up an interesting issue..Where is the basepath to home plate? Guys slide WAY around the plate to get their hand in and under a tag and aren't called out for leaving the basepath.

But...Back to Stros kicking Yankee ass

Pretty excited to watch Bregman at short tonight. Always fun to see him play his natural position

I would not be shocked or appalled if a Pirate pitcher put a fastball under his chin, then followed up with one into his ribs.