VIDEO: Josh Harrison levels Yadier Molina

I wouldn't say he was head hunting but he sure wasn't trying to touch home either, so Jim what was his intentions, Rose was trying to win in the 14th inning he touched home plate!! Harrison was in the first with out any attempt to place any part of his body on home plate. My question to you is this  Are you naturally stupid, or do you work on it daily, watch the video and tell me at what time he actually tried to touch the plate. Some people can't spell and yet be truthful, you Mr. Jim Smith can have a video that proves there was no attempt to score and yet you will badmouth others and lie just because you can. Remember to try to score a run one must touch home plate,since no attempt to score was made his effort was in fact to harm the catcher who just happens to be the best in baseball and on a team you are chasing to gain a spot in the playoffs. Removing him for a period of time would be better than a run.

Amen,BrucePenfield i agree.

In fairness to both players, each person had to react quickly and make a decision. I would rather nobody got hurt. But Harrison's job was to score, just like Molina's job was to not allow him to. If it were me, I probably would have been blocking the plate completely and what happens, happens. Being rational, each player has to decide their actions fast.

I hope Molina recovers quickly.

Harrison had an opening had he slid in head first, his hand and arm would have fit, the problem was Beltran nailed the throw Molina was moving the glove towards the tag so harriston threw the elbow and followed with his shoulder to Molina's head with zero attempt to score had he attempted to hit the plate and that occured it would have been different. In the 60's had a player did something like that Koufax,Drysdale, Seaver, Ryan and most of all Gibson would have tried to see if the baseball could go through one ear and out the other. Back in the day men played harder but cleaner than now, I would imagine his own manager would have benched him with that bush move. I watched Yogi Berra give a few interviews about how when he played everybody had much more respect for the game than todays players.I have watched ESPN all morning not once have I heard one commentator give any props to Harriston's actions only to Molina.

How many times does this have to happen? Part of the blame has to go to the catchers who find themselves in this situation. A catcher can place his back foot on the front of the plate and drop down when he receives the throw. This forces a runner to slide wide of the plate but still gives him access to score. A catcher as experienced as Molina knows that if he sets up to totally block the plate and leaves the runner no access to the plate, he's gonna get hit. Regardless of who's involved, these plays always make me sick. And I was raised "old school". Which means, Harrison would be receiving a high hard one to the ear hole sometime soon.

That was not a dirty play..........I'm not a fan of either team.

Fair and square...........

Sorry Randy Neush dind'nt mean that one. I would neve cut someones name on purpose.

why did you resort to name calling by trying to put my name down. You must be a hater. I thought we were talking base ball here not insulting people . keep it real .

RANDY DUESH . PETE ROSE WENT FOR FOSSE'S MIDSECTION NOT HIS HEADS . CHEAP SHOT.

THEN YOUR BLIND .HE WENT FOR MOLINA'S HEAD NOT THE PLATE.

I'm a cards fan.... Nothing dirty about that play

And another thing . Harrison was not going for the plate he went after Molina's head.

Hey Jim Smith two a guy running full speed no matter how much he weighs always has the advantagew to a guy standing still . peretty basic stuff moron. And Harrison threw his foreharm into Yadier's head. Cheap shot all the way.

First of all I'm not a Cards fan nor a Pirates fan, Pirates are a great story this year. With that said There is a reason why it is only in MLB that a player can launch himself into the catcher and try to munch the catcher and making him drop the ball. It is, in my opinnion the biggest bush league play in all of sports. I don't care if it's Yadier, Posey or some other catcher. You can't run over an infielder, you can't slide out of reach of 2nd base to break up a double play so why can you launch yourself into a catcher with no regard for touching home plate until you shake the cobwebs and think of I might be safe now.  It's totally stupid just cause these guys have equipment on don't make them less vulnerable to being hurt. They should not allow collisions at the plate at all, Harrison's was a cheap shot and someone should have retaliated. The BALLS the commish needs to come up with is to ban this plat from the game. Start protecting baseball's Quarterback.

Hey, I am all for hard nose baseball plays the question is what part of a hard nose play that is clean allows a base runner throw a forearm and his shoulder into another persons head.Pete rose showed how to collide clean hit the mid section that is where the glove and ball are any way, Posey,s crunch was a freak accident he wasn't squared to the runner. If the commish had any balls it should warrant a 3 or for week ride on the pine and a fine above and beyond the loss of pay.  What  the Steeler's linebacker did was no where near as cheap and dirty. The logic one of you fools made as to body protection, A man shoots a gun at one of our soldiers and hits him square in his helmet and kills him this mans logic states he has protection he shouldn't get hurt, People use your brain was it an attempt to score or an attempt to hurt him with a hope that his injury would be so great he would drop the ball.

Try not to be such a moron Joe.  I assume you're a Cards' fan, or you've just started following baseball.  And to the commenter referring to the Bucks- keep them in Milwaukee- we're talking the buccaneers, the Bucs have long played in the Burgh. I'm surprised you didn't write about the cheap shot taken on Harrison later in the game over a completely clean play, now that would have been a worthy read.  Don't be surprised if a Pirate pitcher doesn't go head-hunting today to even that score- oh, and Tony LaRussa wears pantyhose-

the only reason you call it a cheap shot is that it was the defending world series champion catcher. I am sure if the tables were turned and it was the pirates catcher we would not be calling it a cheap shot now would we the only cheap shot i see on this page is suggesting the irates would do anything to win face it the bucs are contenders and the writer is just a hater of the facts LETS GO BUCS

The play at the plate is one of the most controversial plays in all major sports.  The catcher, provided he has possession of the ball, may block the base runner's access to the plate.  The base runner, with real desire to score, must quickly decide to slide or collide with the catcher.  When the plate is not blocked by the catcher but a play will be made, the runner will usually choose to slide.  However, when the catcher blocks the plate, a slide will usually result in an out, so the better choice is a collision with the catcher; this collision being allowed under the rules.  Unfortunately, one or both players may be injured.  The catcher, by choosing to block the plate or not, largely determines whether there will be a collision or not.  The catcher who does not block the base runner's access to the plate but who still has timely possession of the ball and position should have the opportunity and advantage to tag out a sliding base runner.    

I agree with the writer...I guess when the Bucks have been so bad for such a long time and they fianlly have a year when they might have a chance at post season play.....they'll do anything.

Wow!! That's sad when the guy wearing the padding and guards, is the one that gets hurt. Looked like a hard-nosed, clean play to me. To the writer of this column, if you watch Molina drops his head, into the arm of Harrison. The runner probably was bracing himself for what should have been a shot at the glove to dislodge the ball. This was not a cheap shot as you suggest. Molina 5ft 11in 225lbs ..... Harrison 5ft 8in 190lbs

Looks like a baseball play to me. 

If the catcher is going to block the plate he knows what could happen . The hit was clean and he has every right as a base runner to try to get to home plate . The Catcher doesn't own home plate . Go Bucs !  Raise the Jolly Roger !