The White Sox and Brewers played at American Family Field on June 2, 2024.

In the top of the eighth, Chicago had Tommy Pham on third and Nicky Lopez on second with one out when Corey Julks flied to Christian Yelich in short left center. Pham tagged-up at third and raced home. Yelich’s throw to catcher William Contreras beat Pham to the plate. Pham tried to barrel over Contreras but was called out by umpire Edwin Jimenez.

Did Pham violate the home plate collision rule? If he was safe would he have been called out on a challenge to NYC? 

Ruleball Comments

1. In my opinion Pham violated the home plate collision rule.  Rule 6.01(i)(1) states, “A runner attempting to score may not deviate from their direct pathway to the plate in order to initiate contact with the catcher, or otherwise initiate an avoidable collision. If, in the judgment of the umpire, a runner attempting to score initiates contact with the catcher in such a manner, the umpire shall declare the runner out (regardless of whether the catcher maintains possession of the ball).”

2. Pham ran home on the fair side of the foul line which is perfectly legal since he did not have a restricted baseline because he was not avoiding a tag, nor was he in a rundown. Was his intent to get hit by the throw? Or was his intent to legally obstruct the vision of the catcher? Maybe one or the other or both. And then again, he might just have decided to take that basepath.

3. However, it appeared that Pham might have deviated his basepath (not baseline) to the plate and targeted Contreras.

4. A better argument that Pham had violated the home plate collision rule might be the fact that Contreras gave him the foul side to the plate and Pham most likely could have avoided the collision if he had located Contreras’ position, who was properly set in front of the plate.

5.  If Pham was not called out by Jimenez, I think the Brewers would have had a legitimate argument that Pham had violated rule 6.01 (i) (1).

6.  If Contreras was blocking the plate with possession of the ball, Pham could have legally barreled him over but that was not the case in this situation because the foul side of the plate was given to Pham. 

7. When the home plate collision rule is invoked, the umpire should declare the ball dead, and all other baserunners should return to the last base touched at the time of the collision. If Lopez had reached third at the time of the collision, he would be allowed to remain there. If he didn’t reach third base at the time of the collision, he would be returned to second base. Therefore, trail runners need to hustle to get to the next base when there is a play at the plate.

Rich Marazzi

Rules consultant/analyst:  Angels, D’backs, Dodgers, Mets, Nationals, Orioles, Padres, Phillies, Pirates, Red Sox, Rangers, Royals, Tigers, Twins, White Sox, Yankees, YES, and NBC Sports Chicago.