BRADENTON, Fla. — A yr in the past, Andrew McCutchen publicly expressed concern about what he seen as elevated obstruction by fielders on stolen base makes an attempt. Quickly after, he spoke with Main League officers about it, and he’s happy with the progress made since these conversations occurred.
In his eyes, final yr’s notable rule adjustments, which included a pitch timer and larger bases, inspired groups to steal extra bases. Steal makes an attempt had been up final yr, and the Pirates definitely took half in that spike.
However with the leap in steal makes an attempt, McCutchen additionally noticed a leap within the threat of harm. McCutchen stated he noticed Ji-Hwan Bae grabbing his wrist or shoulder “numerous occasions” after sliding into an infielder.
“The largest factor for me was, it was simply not blatantly placing your physique in entrance of a base,” McCutchen stated. “If a throw takes you there, it takes you there. But when a man is stealing a base and the man catching the ball is dropping his knee in entrance of the bottom to cease you from attending to the bottom, that’s an issue. Not less than, I felt that manner.”
League officers reached out to take heed to McCutchen, and the Pirates’ veteran felt heard.
“The sport has advanced,” McCutchen stated. “The sport’s altering. There’s some language with house plate now. We’ve had that for 10 years or so now. There’s been no language modified on the bottom paths. My factor was, there must be one thing accomplished with that as nicely. We’re attempting to forestall harm. That’s why I discussed it and why I used to be vocal about it. I’m simply attempting to forestall harm right here. What can we do? It was good that Main League Baseball and some of the individuals I talked to had been fairly aware of it.”
On the Pirates’ finish, supervisor Derek Shelton stated implementing obstruction extra is “a lot wanted” and that many managers additionally voiced their issues. It definitely helped their case to have McCutchen of their nook.
“When you might have a celebrity participant and a man that is revered like he’s,” Shelton stated, “it has an affect.”
