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A16 sports
Tuesday 23 augusT 2022

Plate discipline: MLB umps crack down

on blocking home

Lovullo said. "I don't think
anyone is maliciously act-
ing out to break the rules."
700 CLUB?
If this is it for Albert Pujols,
the 11-time All-Star is clos-
ing his career with quite a
flourish.
The 42-year-old Pujols blast-
ed two more homers on
Saturday, pushing his ca-
reer total to 692. He's now
just four homers shy of Alex
Rodriguez for the No. 4 spot
Detroit Tigers' Javier Baez scores past Cleveland Guardians in MLB history.
catcher Austin Hedges on a ball hit by Harold Castro, while Now the question is this:
home plate umpire Lance Barksdale watches during the first Can the three-time MVP
inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, in Cleveland.
Associated Press get to 700?
That seemed like a extreme
By DAVID BRANDT the catchers right? As with longshot just a few weeks
AP Sports Writer many things, it's complicat- ago, but the way he's hit-
PHOENIX (AP) — The rough- ed. Sounds simple enough. ting these days, nothing
and-tumble days of Pete The problem is the catcher seems impossible. About 40 Carolina Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) gestures
Rose bowling over Ray is trying to get in good po- games are left in the regu- during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against
Fosse at home plate of sition to field the ball, ad- lar season, which Pujols the Washington Commanders, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, in
the 1970 All-Star Game are justing to the trajectory of says will be his last. Landover, Md.
long gone. the throw. Many times, that "That's the hard work I put in Associated Press
Most believe that's a means the catcher moves day in and day out," Pujols
change for the better. a foot in front or on top of said. "Nothing surprises me." QB Mayfield starting
"It's not a football game," the plate. Even if the plate TRIVIA QUESTION
D-backs manager Torey isn't completely blocked, it St. Louis' Yadier Molina has for Panthers in Week 1
Lovullo said. "We've got to makes for a more difficult played 2,159 career games
make sure guys stay safe." sliding target for the baser- at catcher, which ranks against Browns
But the drama — and unner. fourth in MLB history. Who
sometimes controversy — At that point, it becomes a are the top three?
surrounding plays at the judgment call. DODGER DOMINATION By STEVE REED
plate are still around more The rule has been around The Los Angeles Dodgers AP Sports Writer
than 50 years later. for several years: It was have played so well over CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Baker Mayfield will start the
Two MLB games over the changed in 2014 and is col- the past couple months Carolina Panthers' Sept. 11 regular-season opener
past 10 days were partially loquially called the "Buster that the record for wins in a against his former team, the Cleveland Browns.
decided after video replay Posey rule" after the All-Star regular season is in play. Panthers coach Matt Rhule made the announcement
overturned plays at the catcher suffered a bro- The Dodgers are 39-8 since on the team's website Monday.
plate, favoring baserunners ken ankle on a play at the June 29, improving their Mayfield, acquired in a trade with the Browns earlier
over the catcher. The first plate. But umpires' willing- mark to 84-36 for the sea- this offseason, beat out incumbent starter Sam Darnold
was in Washington's 4-3 win ness to rule in favor of bas- son. To match the record for the job. The news was expected as Mayfield had
over the San Diego Padres erunners is arguably a new of 116 wins, last reached outperformed Darnold during most of training camp.
and the other was in De- development. by the Seattle Mariners in "When we started this process, we were looking at
troit's 4-3 victory over the Diamondbacks catcher 2001, the Dodgers need to three things," Rhule said. "Number one, mastery of the
Cleveland Guardians. Carson Kelly said he under- go 32-10. offense, number two, situational football excellence,
The plays were strikingly stands both sides of the de- Will that be hard? Abso- and number three, moving the ball and getting guys
similar: Cleveland's Austin bate. lutely. involved. That's been our focus all along. Baker has
Hedges and San Diego's "You've got to be con- Impossible? Not the way made a lot of improvement, a lot of growth in all three
Austin Nola each tagged science of what you're L.A. is playing. areas in a short amount of time."
out a runner at the plate, doing, where you're posi- What's even more remark- Both Mayfield and Darnold are expected to play in the
but on review, it was ruled tioned," Kelly said. "But ul- able is that mathematically team's preseason finale on Friday night against the Buf-
that the catchers failed to timately, we've got to be the Dodgers could have an falo Bills. Neither Mayfield nor Darnold has seen much
give a clear lane for the able to go get the ball." even better record. action in the preseason and both were held out of last
runner to score and the call Diamondbacks manager Their pythagorean win-loss week's game against the New England Patriots.
was overturned. Torey Lovullo agreed that record, which takes into Rhule originally said the Panthers would keep three
Hedges and Nola were the rule is simple, even if account runs scored versus quarterbacks on the roster, but that was before rookie
both stunned. Hedges was the interpretation is not. He runs allowed and comes third-round draft pick Matt Corral suffered a Lisfranc
particularly angry, calling added that plays at the up with the record a team ligament tear in his foot.
the reversal "embarrassing." plate happen in a hurry "should" have, is 87-33. The "All along, we've felt like we need to have a really
The Padres and Guardians and there's a lot of moving Dodgers have scored 264 strong quarterback room, and have every quarterback
are both fighting for playoff parts in a couple seconds. more runs then they've al- ready to play," Rhule said. "The reality of this league is
spots. "I thought I did ev- "The timing of sports in slow lowed. most teams will play multiple quarterbacks. Sam has
erything the way we prac- motion sometimes looks TRIVIA ANSWER worked incredibly hard, played really well for us during
tice: Step back, give him so different than what ac- Ivan Rodriguez (2,427), training camp, and will be ready to go if and when it's
a lane, not throw the knee tually happens in front of Carlton Fisk (2,226) and Bob needed."q
in front," Nola said. So are you when you're doing it," Boone (2,225).q