Chazz Reinhold
Registered User
The catcher must give a "lane" to the runner to the plate unless he already has the ball. In this case the catcher clearly stuck his leg out blocking the plate prior to receiving the ball. The correct call was made.
It's called the posey rule cause he got trucked on a play at the plate causing him to miss several weeks. They are trying to protect catchers from getting hurt so they call it the posey rule, much like they call having to slide into 2nd base cleanly the utley rule.
Several weeks? Man, he got destroyed in May and didn't return that entire season because of how severe his broken leg and torn ankle ligaments were. It was a devastating play, and the rule has a legitimate basis.
MLB didn't actually change it until Avila got hurt in the playoffs a few years ago, though. Posey's injury wasn't enough to spur them to change, apparently.