The “Buster Posey Rule”: Why Last Night’s Braves/Phillies Finish Was Called Correctly

The Phillies held a 5-3 lead over the Braves in the 9th inning of last night's game. With runners on first and second, Freddie Freeman stepped into the box as Atlanta's last chance.

On the first offering from newly acquired Philadelphia reliever Brandon Workman, the Braves' first baseman saw something he liked.

What. A. Finish.#RingTheBellpic.twitter.com/ib8yrKXHHc-- Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies)August 24, 2020

What. A. Finish.#RingTheBellpic.twitter.com/ib8yrKXHHc

The ensuing play at the plate has generated a slew of online anger and confusion while demonstrating a fundamental misunderstanding of the so-called"Buster Posey rule". Some of this debate may simply radiate from salty Braves supporters, but many baseball fans seem to have an opinion on the rule without proper comprehension of what it states.

So MLB: what is the blocking home plate rule!? Where is Dansby supposed to go?-- Jason Connor (@jasontconnor)August 24, 2020

So MLB: what is the blocking home plate rule!? Where is Dansby supposed to go?

@MLBUAdefeats the Braves on a wild finish!-- Austin Riley's Rakes (@RileysRakes)August 24, 2020

@MLBUAdefeats the Braves on a wild finish!

After a series of home-plate collisions in the early 2010s resulted in serious injuries to catchers, most notably to Giant's superstar Buster Posey, MLB decided to make a change. Rule 7.13 was created to deemphasize contact between catcher and baserunner but DID NOT make all collisions illegal.

While the application of the rule got off to a rocky start, as both players and umpires adjusted to a new normal, recently it has successfully protected players without creating unnecessary controversy and confusion.

If you would like to read the rule in its entirety, I will link to ithere. Otherwise, I will highlight its key points and apply them to last night's finish.

OFFICIAL BASEBALL RULE 7.13Collisions at home plate

- A runner attempting to score may not deviate from his direct pathway to the plate in order to initiate contact with the catcher (or other player covering home plate).

A runner attempting to score may not deviate from his direct pathway to the plate in order to initiate contact with the catcher (or other player covering home plate).

- The failure by the runner to make an effort to touch the plate, the runner's lowering of the shoulder, or the runner's pushing through with his hands, elbows or arms, would support a determination that the runner deviated from the pathway in order to initiate contact with the catcher in violation of Rule 7.13. If the runner slides into the plate in an appropriate manner, he shall not be adjudged to have violated Rule 7.13.

The failure by the runner to make an effort to touch the plate, the runner's lowering of the shoulder, or the runner's pushing through with his hands, elbows or arms, would support a determination that the runner deviated from the pathway in order to initiate contact with the catcher in violation of Rule 7.13. If the runner slides into the plate in an appropriate manner, he shall not be adjudged to have violated Rule 7.13.

- Unless the catcher is in possession of the ball, the catcher cannot block the pathway of the runner as he is attempting to score. If, in the judgment of the umpire, the catcher without possession of the ball blocks the pathway of the runner, the umpire shall call or signal the runner safe.

Unless the catcher is in possession of the ball, the catcher cannot block the pathway of the runner as he is attempting to score. If, in the judgment of the umpire, the catcher without possession of the ball blocks the pathway of the runner, the umpire shall call or signal the runner safe.

To put it simply, the rule states that neither the catcher nor runner is allowed to initiate unwarranted contact. In years past, a runner who lost the age-old race between ball and man could simplyattempt to inflict as much damage as possible on the catcher in the hope that he would lose possession of the baseball.

Now, the catcher must give the runner a lane to slide into the plate (unless he already has the ball) and the runner must slide in a safe and acceptable manner instead of trying to knock the catcher unconscious.

This explains why this 2014 play between the Reds and Marlins was overturned, as the catcher blocked the plate before receiving the ball and gave the runner no lane to slide.

On the flip side, here is another example from 2014 in which the catcher properly gave a lane and then applied a sweeping side tag for the out.

While Rule 7.13 seems to eliminate the possibility for any significant contact at the plate, this is actually not the case. It also states:

- Notwithstanding the above, it shall not be considered a violation of this Rule 7.13 if the catcher blocks the pathway of the runner in order to field a throw, and the umpire determines that the catcher could not have fielded the ball without blocking the pathway of the runner and that contact with the runner was unavoidable.

Notwithstanding the above, it shall not be considered a violation of this Rule 7.13 if the catcher blocks the pathway of the runner in order to field a throw, and the umpire determines that the catcher could not have fielded the ball without blocking the pathway of the runner and that contact with the runner was unavoidable.

If the act of receiving a throw to the plate brings the catcher into contact with the baserunner, it is deemed justifiable and legal.

All of this to circle back to last night's game between the Braves and Phillies. After a strong throw from centerfield to the cutoff man Didi Gregorius, the Phillies shortstop threw a rocket to home plate that was a few feet towards the third baseline.

As catcher Andrew Knapp moved to receive the ball he was placed directly in line with a hard-charging Dansby Swanson; dead set on tying the ballgame. In a split second, Knapp secured the ball in his glove just before Swanson slide directly into it (but did not deviate from his pathway to the plate).

Neither the runner nor the catcher did anything in violation of Rule 7.13.

The umps made the correct call and the game ended as it should have, with an exciting finish to a 5-4 Phillies victory.