MLB

Joe Girardi is rethinking MLB rules after Gleyber Torres injury

In the wake of Gleyber Torres’ injury from sliding into home plate that resulted in a season-ending torn UCL, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said he’s rethinking the rule prohibiting collisions with the catcher.

“I think slides have become a lot more creative at home plate because catchers don’t block the plate,” Girardi said Tuesday before the Yankees faced the Angels at the Stadium. “Now I’m starting to rethink the rule because the [base runners] are the ones really at risk here. More guys stick their hand out. … It seems like players are forgetting how to slide.”

And he doesn’t see a solution other that banning the headfirst slide.

“You tell your base runners, ‘Do not slide headfirst,’” Girardi said. “But that’s asking someone to make a split-second decision. Every time I see a guy slide headfirst, I cringe.”

But Girardi also pointed out that Torres wasn’t sliding headfirst when he got hurt. Instead, he was sliding around the plate and his hand got caught on the catcher’s leg.

“I’m not sure what to do,” Girardi said.