Umpires name it a practice wreck, a play that ends in a horrific collision by way of no fault of the baserunner or fielder. No interference or obstruction is named. It’s thought-about “just baseball” and seemingly unavoidable.
The newest instance started with a bunt by Luis Arráez of the San Diego Padres in opposition to the Houston Astros on Sunday. First baseman Christian Walker fielded the ball and tossed it to second baseman Mauricio Dubón, who’d raced over to cowl first.
Dubón’s momentum carried him straight behind the bottom as he touched it together with his foot to document the out. Arráez, in the meantime, motored up the road and thru the bottom, then slammed into Dubón. Arráez bought the worst of it, struggling a concussion that landed him on the injured record.
All through baseball historical past, such collisions have been met principally with grimaces and shrugs. No person likes seeing an damage, however the recreation is the sport and, because the saying goes, it hasn’t modified in 150 years.
Now, although, tweaking guidelines and introducing ideas are in vogue, whether or not to enhance the tempo of play with a pitch clock, enhance stolen bases with bigger luggage, or tackle participant security by eliminating catchers blocking residence plate.
Addressing collisions at first base is perhaps subsequent. They’re frequent, and infrequently end in critical damage.
Padres’ Luis Arráez (4) collides with Astros second baseman Mauricio Dubón, left, at first base, leading to Arraez being carted off the sector.
(Karen Warren / Related Press)
An abbreviated record of memorable practice wrecks at first base:
— 2023: The Minnesota Twins’ Royce Lewis flips over Cleveland Guardians first baseman Gabriel Arias and lands on his face, together with his neck bending as his legs fly up and over his physique.— 2022: Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will get his free hand stepped on whereas stretching for a throw. — 2017: The Philadelphia Phillies’ Bryce Harper hyperextends his left knee when he lunges to beat a throw and slips on a moist base throughout a crowded play at first.— 2013: The New York Mets’ Eric Younger steps on the proper ankle of Atlanta Braves pitcher Tim Hudson, who’s protecting the bag on a floor ball to first baseman Freddie Freeman. Hudson suffers a fractured ankle.
And, after all, Dodgers first baseman Max Muncy suffers a torn ulnar collateral ligament when the Brewers’ Jace Peterson slams into his left arm as he reaches into the bottom line to catch a throw within the final recreation of the 2021 common season. Muncy is out for your entire postseason and the damage lingers into the following spring.
“I definitely felt like my arm wasn’t there,” Muncy mentioned.
The damage to his three-time Nationwide League batting champion Arráez recent in his thoughts, Padres supervisor Mike Shildt mentioned on the “Starkville” podcast with Jayson Stark and Doug Glanville that widespread sense dictates Main League Baseball discover the two-base resolution.
“I wouldn’t be opposed to it,” he mentioned. “I haven’t seen it or played with it, to form a real strong opinion. But conceptually, it’s one of those things where you go: You know, why not? I mean, we want our players to be safe and on the field. … Conceptually, it does check some boxes to me that make sense — that listen, let’s just create a lane for everybody.”
Shildt mentioned Arráez appears to be recovering properly thus far.
“He’s sore, as you would expect,” Shildt mentioned. “But nothing from a CT scan that’s alarming in the cervical area or the jaw line, because he got a little abrasion on his jaw. And cognitively, [he’s] alert, remembers what’s taken place, is testing positively to this point on anything relative to the concussion side of it.”
Pushback on implementing double first bases may come from purists, however participant security has change into an overarching concern as salaries have elevated. The typical MLB wage this yr is $5 million, which is what Dubón will make. Arráez will make $14 million.
The collective bargaining settlement expires after the 2026 season. High of the agenda for homeowners in negotiations would be the inventive spending of deep-pocket groups such because the Dodgers and Mets. One other hot-button matter is participant security, which union chief Tony Clark mentions at each flip. Double first bases, anybody?
