MLB bans collisions at home plate

To me, this becomes a matter of when, not what.  This resembles the NCAA rule.  Until now, in MLB, a catcher could block the plate while playing the ball.  So, if the throw had left the hand of the outfielder, the catcher could block the plate.  Now, he must receive that throw before blocking the plate.   Unless catching it in the runners path...

YES, this may reduce collisions; not eliminate them. Runners taking cheap shots at catchers is better defined.  And, catchers in the runners path without the ball is illegal .. sort of.

Remember many of those collisions were caused by catchers blocking.  If you did not block, there would be no collision.

As old school thinking as I am, I feel the new verbage of the rule betters the game. Many of the nastiest collisions at the plate has been from runners going after the catcher and not trying for the plate, as well from catchers intentionally blocking the plate with out the ball. Both of those have been adressed. There will still be contact at the plate and I'm fine with that. I just wast the mallicious intent contact out of the game.--- At the end of the day, it's still an umpire judgement call.