PHOENIX, Mar. 31 \u2014 When Colorado Rockies<\/a> catcher Elias Diaz<\/a><\/strong> gunned down Arizona Diamondbacks<\/a> speedster Corbin Carroll<\/a><\/strong> Friday night<\/a> on a steal attempt at third base, there was some dispute over whether he was safe or out. The Diamondbacks challenged, but replay was inconclusive, so the call stood. What was never in dispute, however, was the positioning of Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon<\/a><\/strong>. McMahon was fully in accordance with the league\u2019s new enforcement of the obstruction rule vis-\u00e0-vis infielders, giving Carroll a fair opportunity to reach the bag with his hand. He had placed his shin across the top of the bag rather than resting it on the ground in front of the bag, which fielders \u2014 including McMahon, by his own admission \u2014 have done in previous years.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just trying to figure out things that\u2019ll make life easier. I didn\u2019t try to do that,\u201d he said, referring to the placement of his shin. \u201cWhen the throw is low, typically infielders\u2014you\u2019ll see all of them drop down to a knee.\u201d<\/p>\n Brendan Rodgers<\/a><\/strong> is no exception to that statement. \u201cIt feels the most comfortable, I\u2019d say, and the safest,\u201d the second baseman and 2022 Gold Glover said. He continued, \u201cI don\u2019t like straddling the bag because it would be hard to make an adjustment on a throw to my backhand. So I want to get there early enough to where I can drop my left knee on top of the bag and be able to maneuver around the bag from there.\u201d<\/p>\n Both manager Bud Black<\/a><\/strong> and third base coach Warren Schaeffer, who doubles as the infield coach, said the infielders spent all spring training on it. \u201cWe do not want to get called for an obstruction,\u201d Schaeffer said, \u201cbecause they get the next base, specifically on a back-pick.\u201d The new mechanic is for the infielder to feel the bag with his feet, know where he is, and set up accordingly, according to Schaeffer. \u201cWhat we used to teach was in front of the bag, don\u2019t touch the bag, and then the ball will take your foot naturally. It\u2019ll drop back into the line. Can\u2019t do that anymore. So you have to feel where you are with the bag and just put your foot on it. Your feet will tell you a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n The back-picks Schaeffer mentioned refer to plays where a fielder throws behind a runner whom he feels has strayed too far off his base. Most commonly, this occurs when a catcher fires to first base after a pitch when the runner on first takes a large secondary lead. Left-handed first baseman Michael Toglia<\/a><\/strong> said this is the only situation where he has to be careful not to obstruct, because on a normal pickoff play from the pitcher, he\u2019s already set up out of the way. \u201cIf I can, I\u2019m gonna try to straddle (the bag),\u201d Toglia explained. \u201cIf not, I\u2019m just gonna stay in front of it, sweep (tag), and hope to get him.\u201d<\/p>\nThe New Mechanic<\/h3>\n
First Basemen and Back-picks<\/h3>\n