Dodgers infielder Max Muncy and Braves catcher Travis d’Arnaud were the principles. Muncy slid into d’Arnaud while trying to score from second base on a two-out single by Will Smith in the third inning of NLCS Game 7.
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Before MLB installed safety rules to protect catchers, that play would have been expected. Now, it leaves people agitated and asking questions: Was Muncy’s slide dirty or did d’Arnaud illegally block Muncy’s path with his knee?
For a visual, watch Muncy’s right spike clip d’Arnaud’s left shin guard as d’Arnaud leans into Muncy’s path to catch Cristian Pache’s throw from center field.
Per a reading of MLB rule 6.01(i), neither player was in the wrong, and neither team challenged the play.
Still, Twitter had its say:
