Posey was in front of the plate and received the throw late. Because the throw was from the right side, he was also vulnerable. Cousins crashed into Posey, whose feet, tangled beneath him, bent sickeningly backward. He missed the rest of the season with three torn ligaments and a broken bone in his shattered left ankle.

His manager, Bruce Bochy, a former catcher, was irate at the play and said baseball needed to look into rules to protect catchers. Joe Torre, Major League Baseball’s vice president for baseball operations, also a catcher, investigated the matter at the time.

“We explored it, mostly out of respect to Bruce,” Torre said, “but there really isn’t anything to be done. It’s just a tough part of the game. You can’t have the runner just walk in and let the catcher politely tag him. I don’t think that would go over too well. You hate to see it, and you hold your breath when it happens, but that’s baseball.”

Spoken like a catcher.

In fact, the players who take the brunt of some of the most violent plays in the sport tend not to complain. Rays catcher Jose Molina saw a replay this year of his brother Yadier Molina, the St. Louis catcher, being steamrolled by Josh Harrison of the Pirates. Jose did not like it, but he acknowledged the play was not dirty. No need to change any rules, he said.

“These days, a lot of people baby the catchers,” Jose Molina said, before adding: “You’re a catcher. Just stand there, be a man and take the hit. If not, go to first base, go to second and play another position. I hate seeing G.M.’s and owners saying, ‘I don’t want my guy to block the plate.’ That’s being a baby. It’s the position of a man and toughness. You’re going to get some, and you’re going to give some. I’ve had my share, but I’m still standing.”

He’s Heading Home

Martin squares his body in front of the plate and waits for the ball as Trout gains speed with each step. Martin’s mask lies on the ground to his right. His face is exposed. Eric Chavez is the Yankees’ third baseman. Martin knows that Chavez, like Alex Rodriguez, is a good fielder with a strong arm. Chavez lunges high to his right for Izturis’s bouncer, and he is directly behind Trout when he catches it. Still, Martin can expect a clean throw from Chavez, on target. Perhaps it will even come in time for him to prepare for the impact.

“The ball is about 40 feet from me and the guy is a couple of strides away,” Martin said. “O.K., I know. I know what’s coming.”