I would support it. I don't think it would affect the game all that much. Foul balls would still be foul over the orange portion of the bag. In my scenario, only 1st base is changed, as that's where I've seen the most knees and ankles give way.

Could these lead to the rise of the hustle single?

48 comments

  3. All for it. You have people running full force, balls being thrown full force all to a single point where neither person is looking at each other. It’s a wonder we don’t have more nasty injuries.

  4. So the orange base is in foul territory and where the runner has to run to and the white portion is where 1st normally is and where the fielder has to tag for an out?

  5. Not sure I’d support it *per se*, but I certainly wouldn’t oppose it. I’m not invested enough in the aesthetics of first base to care too much either way, and if it’s going to cut down on the potential for injuries, go ahead. I’m not out here advocating for it though.

  6. remind me, the orange section extends into foul terrirory, right? And it’s only ‘active’ when the batter is running toward first?

    If those are both the case then I am absolutely for it.

  8. I definitely think it’s a good idea. Players getting seriously injured in collisions is bad for the game and the only argument against it is that it looks funny

  9. I’ve been asking them to do this for a while. Doing this would make first base have far less chances at a collision and also this would be the fix for the running lane issue when there is a ball to the catcher and he needs to throw to first base. A runner can just stay in a straight line in foul territory. No more confusion

  10. I think they should have another catcher drill a Nationals player on the way to first, just for old times sake and then institute the rule.

  11. I don’t hate the idea but I doubt it would actually reduce injuries at higher levels of play. It’s inherently a dangerous play, and every year there are a few nasty collisions but these are the best athletes in the world. First basemen already know where it is and isn’t safe to move for a ball and they sometimes choose to enter the unsafe area to make a play. I think this would only extend that window rather than eliminate the risk.

  12. I’m for it. But I feel, if they do go to this bag, they have to go with the rule that the fielder can only record outs if he is touching the white side, and it isn’t an out if he is touching the orange

  13. Currently in use for NCAA baseball. It’s weird to see outside of youth ball and beer ball

  15. Would it be valid for the 1B to stand on the orange part of the bag to get the out?

    Say, in the unlikely scenario that the batter pops out to the catcher in fair territory, but then the catcher drops and boots the ball to the backstop, and now the batter-runner is heading to first with a late start so that the catcher still has a chance to throw him out. Or something.

  16. The only potential negative is balls hitting the bag. You absolutely know that some crazy borderline call will determine an important game and there will be endless hand wringing about it.

  19. No. Too fundamental of a change. Stop changing the game so much
    Shouldn’t have the bases bigger, shouldn’t do this

  20. I’m sorry but you’re soft as fuck if you want this.  For fucks sake why even play the game if we’re going to do softball ass shit like this lol 

  21. Are there a lot of injuries at first base? I remember Tulo basically ending his career running out a grounder but that dude was made of glass. If I were convinced there is a need I wouldn’t be against it.

  24. Does this make the base path longer for righties? Righties already start outside of the base path and have trouble staying in it.

  26. I feel like most collisions we see at first base are caused by poor throws pulling the fielder into the runner’s path. I think it can help reduce *some* collisions, but I don’t expect to see a dramatic reduction. Speaking as a former 1B, playing with the orange bag didn’t really reduce the amount of times a throw pulled me into the base path, and I was staring down a runner coming at me full force.

  28. Yes for youth baseball. 

    At the professional level it feels like a solution in search of a problem. The base just isn’t a cause of injuries for the pros. 

  31. Lead to the rise of the hustle single? No. Collisions are exceeding rare and guys aren’t avoiding running because they fear a collision. They aren’t running because they just assume the play is going to be made and they can’t beat it out.

    With that said, as long as it doesn’t affect the game I don’t think I’d care. You could still have collisions on throws up the line, and it would make tagging the runner on bad throws harder. But I’d assume those aren’t that frequent either.

  33. Seems unnecessary. Only case where a runner would make contact with a 1st baseman is if the throw take the fielder across the bag. There would be a collision with or without the safety bag.

  34. No, even as someone who tore his ACL in high school covering 1st on a terrible flip from my 1st baseman. The guy who hit me needed to go down to avoid and just didn’t, even with the orange base I would have been on the bag. Add in the debacle we saw play out at the college level last season of a first baseman not allowing a safe base runner passage to the white bag, tagging the runner as they came back while they were stepping on the orange, and getting the out call because the base runner didn’t return to 1st. No thanks, I don’t want any part of umps trying to handle that with or without replay.

  36. Maybe at younger levels but what’s the data for these types of injuries? I used to play first so I understand the risk but idk if it’s significant enough to change. Also I love me a high throw to a catch and spin for the tag, I feel like the orange bag would kill that play

  38. They want this just so they can auction off another base. There’s nothing wrong with the current base

  43. How does this work if you are trying to stretch out a double would you still run on the orange bag or the white one in that case?

  46. Yes. It’s genuinely stupid to have a running lane for the runner that does not include the bag.

  48. I have been watching baseball for years. I have no idea why this is still not a thing yet.

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