Imagine there's no bases

Lose Remerswaal

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It's easy if you try
No Vazquez breaking his finger
No DL for Stro's George Springer . . .

They've padded the walls, they've improved helmet technology, players wear all sorts of armor on their elbows, shins, and feet to protect themselves from balls, and yet Base Technology hasn't changed in more than 50 years.

Watching the Sox game last night and seeing Nunez dive into First Base (AGAIN!! STOP IT!!) and getting up slowly I asked myself why MLB still needs bases at 1st, 2nd and 3rd? So many broken and jammed fingers there, not to mention twisted ankles and wrenched knees and who knows what else?

Base Pluses:

1) Those 2 ground balls each year that hit the base and take a hilarious bounce
2) The first baseman (or pitcher covering) can feel for the base to make the putout.

Base Minuses:

1) See above about fingers and legs

Solution:

Replace the bases with something else. Have you ever felt a major league base? It is a pretty damn hard piece of equipment. If you jump on it it can compress a tiny bit, but on a scale of "soft pillow = 1" to "cinderblock = 10", a major league base is about an 8.5

Solution: Something softer, if you want to keep the ability for the pitcher/first baseman to be able to feel for the bag, or just go to a similar built in structure like home plate. Yes, you'll have to equip the other 3 umpires with brushes, but that's a helluva cheaper than a broken finger!

Happy to discuss other solutions. I'm sure there's something safer out there that will solve all these issues.

Sorry, Hollywood Jack Corbett!



Edit: I see this is mentioned in the August Game thread, and having a base makes it easier to stop a slide than not having a base. Excellent point, but a softer base would also allow that.

I think this needs it's own thread.
 
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tonyarmasjr

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Having home plate-type bases would result in tons of runners slipping trying to turn them, as well as a fair share of turned ankles and twisted knees. Home plate is slippery when you're wearing metal cleats. Trying to turn it at a full run would be difficult and dangerous. As mentioned, the bases being raised also assists in stopping slides and fielders (not just at first base) finding them. It also makes the umpires' job a lot easier. Making the bases softer would destroy runners' lower legs.
 

Time to Mo Vaughn

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Making the bases softer would destroy runners' lower legs.
Can you expand on this?

I've been wondering for years, why MLB uses the hard rubber bags, when the cloth/fabric ones I use in my beer league softball seem like they would work just fine with far less injury potential.

I'm picturing a modern version of this:


Every few years we see a major injury because of a slightly wet rubber base. A few years ago it was Harper's knee. Other times, it seems like a softer bag would prevent the rolling we see with ankle injuries like Tim Hudson or Jason Kendall.
 

tonyarmasjr

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Can you expand on this?

I've been wondering for years, why MLB uses the hard rubber bags, when the cloth/fabric ones I use in my beer league softball seem like they would work just fine with far less injury potential.

I'm picturing a modern version of this:


Every few years we see a major injury because of a slightly wet rubber base. A few years ago it was Harper's knee. Other times, it seems like a softer bag would prevent the rolling we see with ankle injuries like Tim Hudson or Jason Kendall.
I've never used those bags, so this is all conjecture, but my thinking is that hitting them while cornering at speed is kind of like sticking your foot, on that one, high-torque step, in soft(er) earth. Intuitively, I associate that with more turned ankles/knees. I agree that the slick surface of the current bases doesn't seem to be the best option. I don't think the impact with hard rubber (which does give some) is the cause of those injuries. It makes more sense to me that it's due to slipping on the slick surface, rather than the hardness of the material inside. Maybe something like the current bases with a less slick surface?
 

canderson

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They make (and are used by many leagues, especially in youth sports) breakaway bases that are held by a magnet.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons even issued a release a while back advocating for all youth sports leagues to introduce them.
 

75cent bleacher seat

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You raise an excellent point Lose. Perhaps a modified version of the current plastic style. A plastic one surrounded with the old burlap type would allow for the proper amount of give/protection.

add: I have to imagine some sort of discussion has been had within MLB to address the injury issue. Why something hasn't been done as yet baffles me. After all, it isn't rocket surgery.
 
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Harry Hooper

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As soon as MLB decided that instant replay review would enforce the strictest possible interpretation of the runner maintaining contact with the bag, they should have switched to a softer base option.
 

The Needler

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They make (and are used by many leagues, especially in youth sports) breakaway bases that are held by a magnet.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons even issued a release a while back advocating for all youth sports leagues to introduce them.
Breakaway bases are mostly intended to prevent leg injuries in children and inexperienced athletes who haven’t learned proper sliding techniques, and are not really a viable option for professional players (when the base releases, it requires the umpire to call the play dead).

One option that I do think is viable however, is instituting the double-base at first base, where the runner’s portion of the base is in foul territory, reducing collision potential, sprained ankles, and the incentive to slide into first.
 
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Harry Hooper

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One option that I do think is viable however, is instituting the double-base at first base, where the runner’s portion of the base is in foul territory, reducing collision potential, sprained ankles, and the inc entice to slide into first.
The double-base also solves the issue that the current setup cannot: the batter-runner even if properly obeying the use of 45-foot running lane has to veer back into fair territory to actually touch the 1B bag.
 

budcrew08

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For umps, they use the sound of the foot hitting the base in relation to seeing the ball in the glove to determine close plays.
 

SirPsychoSquints

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For umps, they use the sound of the foot hitting the base in relation to seeing the ball in the glove to determine close plays.
I thought it was the other way around. Pop of the glove vs. seeing the foot.

Edit: Yes:
In any case, the umpire is taught to get set in position, focus his eyes on the base, and listen for the sound of the ball hitting the glove. If he determines the ball has arrived first, he then immediately shifts his eyes to the glove to make sure the fielder has secure possession of the ball.
 

E5 Yaz

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A "home plate type" base wouldn't be the same material as home plate. You just inset a standard base into the infield, leaving it elevated enough for baserunner turning.

Downsides could be that it would be harder for a fielder to plant against the side of the base, or for a runner to grab as he slides through the base. Pop up slides would also be affected, but who uses them anymore?