In baseball, blocking the plate is a common technique performed by a catcher to prevent a runner from scoring. The act of blocking the plate accounts for most of the physical contact in baseball. A view of the playing field at Busch Stadium II St. ... The position of the catcher Catcher is also a general term for a fielder who catches the ball in cricket. ... A runner may be: In modern drug subcultures, a person who delivers drugs to one who is purchasing them, from the drug dealer. ...

By the rules of baseball, a runner has the right to an unobstructed path to a base. However, this right is not granted if the fielder guarding the base possesses the ball or is in the process of catching the ball. In baseball, when a fielder illegally hinders a baserunner, the fielder is guilty of obstruction. ... A baseball field is a playing field used for baseball. ...

The fielders guarding first through third base are unlikely to risk physical harm and will generally place themselves out of the path of the runner. The catcher guarding home plate, however, wears padding and a face mask and will frequently place his body as an obstacle between the runner and home plate. Since the runner does not have to worry about remaining on home plate, only tagging it, he will run at full speed in an effort to reach the final base. The speed of the runner combined with the fact that the catcher still has to tag him makes for a dramatic play. Home plate is the final base in baseball and related games that a player must touch to score. ...

Technique

Any time there is a close play at home plate, meaning the ball and runner reach the plate at the same time, the catcher squats in front of the plate to block a clear path. The runner who is faced with a blocked plate has two choices. He can:

1. Attempt to slide around the catcher and avoid being tagged, or,
2. Collide with the catcher with such force that the catcher has no chance of keeping possession of the ball.

The catcher must be aware of which option the runner will choose. If the runner slides, the catcher will make a sweeping motion with his glove to quickly tag the runner out. Otherwise, the catcher must do everything he can to brace for the impact and keep the ball in his glove. Ty Cobb sliding into first base at Comiskey Park in 1913. ...

Risk

Both players place themselves at risk of injury when there is a close play at home plate, and though they wear padding, catchers are more likely to be injured than runners . Catchers generally have bad knees due to the squatting stance they take at the plate. A catcher's knees are also closest body part to an incoming runner, and there is a chance of an ACL injury to the catcher. Other injuries include bruises and concussions. Diagram of the right knee Grays Fig. ... Your brain floats within your skull surrounded by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). ...