MLB explanation to Pirates: Next time, plow the catcher

MILWAUKEE -- Next time the catcher blocks the plate, the Pirates were formally informed early Wednesday morning, feel free to slide right through him and knock the ball loose.

Yeah, really.

Josh Bell was faced with precisely that scenario Tuesday night in the fourth inning of the 3-1 loss to the Brewers and, based on his -- and his manager's and his coaching staff's -- interpretation of the Buster Posey Rule of 2014 that was aimed at reducing catcher injuries, he saw Milwaukee's Manny Pina blocking the plate after catching a throw from third base, and he attempted a soft slide to try to sneak through:



Bell was called out, and Clint Hurdle's challenge -- based on the Posey Rule calling for a runner to be declared safe if a catcher blocks the plate -- was rejected by Major League Baseball replay officials in New York.



Shortly after the play, as our site reported exclusively, Bell was advised by home plate umpire Andy Fletcher that, because Pina had established possession of the ball and was blocking the plate, Bell could have gone right into him, old-school-style.

Which apparently was news to all concerned. Hurdle and Bell both expressed bewilderment, and the manager stated that he was looking forward to hearing clarification from New York.

Well, that arrived a few hours later, and it didn't seem to clear up much.

"In that particular situation last night, the catcher had the ball early enough that he doesn't have to allow a lane," Hurdle replied when I asked what New York had to say. "The runner needs to choose to either avoid the tag or go through him."

Go through him?

But wasn't that, I asked, what the Posey Rule is supposed to prevent?

"He had the ball early enough," Hurdle came back. "I'm not here to interpret. I'm just telling you what I heard, what I got. In the case of the catcher having the ball that early, you have to either avoid the tag or opt to go through -- because he's set up in front of the plate -- and try to dislodge the ball."

So, basically, the only way the Posey Rule applies from there is that the runner can't do something vicious?

"Yeah. Yeah."

So if it's Bell, and he's a very big man ...

"Just try to lower his shoulder and go through him."

Hurdle suggested that this matter will strongly influence the instruction the Pirates give to players at all levels of the organization.

"We've had multiple conversations about the options you have when you're in the heat of the moment. Maybe by revisiting some plays where guys have opted to go for contact and dislodge the ball, we can show that. Maybe that would initiate the thought process."

I asked Hurdle what judgment a runner might use, whether it would be as simple as being able to see the plate or not.

"That's it. You've got to see some of the plate. If you don't ..."