League outlaws plate collisions. Duh.

MLB Network spent many hours covering the winter meeting this week.

What did not happen:

Monday, December 9, 2013  Owners, fire Bud!

Also, no one saw Fred Wilpon and John Henry together at the same time.  Twits of a feather.
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Portrait of former MLB pitcher Vic Willis
 wearing a catcher's mask, circa 1900.
By William M. Vander Weyde
Wikimedia Commons

The big news was that for the first time since the start of winter meetings in 1876 a major baseball league has outlawed collisions at home plate.  The backwardness of baseball thinking is emphasized by those who applaud this as progress without mentioning how overdue it is.  Those same also applaud the meager expansion of review of close and controversial plays.

Sunday, May 29, 2011  Eliminate the catcher, outlaw the collisions or properly equip the fielders.

A few days ago Giant catcher Buster Posey was seriously injured when a runner smashed into him standing near home plate.  I thought it was revolting, the kind of thing that is becoming unacceptable in the NFL.

MLB fans and pundits produced the usual expected drivel about this being baseball, blah, blah, blah.  Also, revolting.
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Saturday, September 7, 2013  Players may not unload on other players. Constitutional amendment 10.

The most obvious example of unloading on another baseball player is smashing into the catcher when trying to score.
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Tuesday, September 24, 2013  Protect Joe Mauer from himself: eliminate the catching position.

Joe Mauer has not played since August 19 and will not play again this season...

In that final game against the Mets Joe Mauer was hit in the head twice by foul balls.  Mauer sustained a concussion.

Austin Romine of the Yankees had his season end the same way but since he is not among the leaders in any batting stat most fans are not aware of his fate.
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Ah, Thursday night football.