4, 2010, and was operated on by Dr. James Andrews that Aug. 18.

NEW YORK -- Major League Baseball sent a memo to teams and umpires clarifying this years experimental rule intended to limit collisions at home plate, saying runners should not be called safe if the ball clearly beats them. The rule, announced in February, says a catcher cant block the plate if he doesnt have the ball. There have been several disputed calls, including a pair of decisions in the last 5 1/2 weeks that led to runners being called safe after video review. The guidelines sent to teams Tuesday say the catchers positioning shouldnt change the call when the throw clearly arrives ahead of the runner. They also say if the catcher is entirely in fair territory, he should not be considered to have blocked the plate. Photo examples were included. "Its basically the same thing, but the officials in New York got to use a little bit of common sense," Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "If youre out by 40 feet ... lets not call that guy safe because of that." The new guidelines were tested immediately when Tampa Bay left fielder Matt Joyce threw out the New York Yankees Stephen Drew trying to score in the fifth inning Tuesday night. Ryan Hanigan gave Drew no lane to the plate as the Rays catcher waited for the throw, which arrived in plenty of time. Hanigan tagged the sliding runner and Drew was called out by plate umpire Vic Carapazza. The ruling was upheld following a replay review, leaving the Rays with a 4-3 lead. Overturned calls led to tying runs for the home team in the late innings at Cincinnati on July 31 and at San Francisco on Aug. 13. In both cases, the hosts went on to score more runs in the inning and win. "Theres been a few plays this year where it looks like the guys been out by 10 feet and they call him safe because he felt like the catcher -- he took the plate away," Colorado manager Walt Weiss said. "Youve got to add some common sense to the rule." On July 31 at Cincinnati, Miami led 1-0 in the eighth when Todd Frazier flied out to right fielder Giancarlo Stanton, who threw home as Zack Cozart tried to score from third. Catcher Jeff Mathis tagged Cozart, who trotted in without a slide, and the runner was called out by umpire Mike Winters. After a 6-minute, 10-second review, the call was overturned, and Ryan Ludwick followed with a two-run single that sent the Reds to a 3-1 win. Marlins manager Mike Redmond was ejected after throwing his hat to the ground and arguing with umpires. Then he kicked his hat on his way back to the dugout. San Francisco trailed the visiting White Sox 1-0 in the seventh inning on Aug. 13 when Chicago first baseman Jose Abreu fielded Joe Paniks broken-bat grounder and threw out a sliding Gregor Blanco by about 10 feet. The runner was called out by plate umpire Chris Segal, but after a video review that lasted 4 minutes, 55 seconds, replay umpires in New York ruled Blanco safe, citing catcher Tyler Flowers for blocking the plate with his left leg in violation of the new rule. Chicago manager Robin Ventura ran onto the field, was ejected and repeatedly kicked home plate. The Giants went on to a seven-run inning and won 7-1. "If a guy, you can tell hes going to be out, he should be out," Ventura said Tuesday. "I understand protecting the catchers. I think most of their injuries probably come from foul tips, not actual plays at the plate. You dont want guys charging the catchers coming into the plate. In the end when you get a guy out, you make the play, everythings done effectively, you want the guy to be out." The new rule followed debate that intensified following May 2011, when San Francisco slugger Buster Posey was injured as the Marlins Scott Cousins crashed into him at the plate. Posey, an All-Star catcher, sustained a broken bone in his lower left leg and three torn ligaments in his ankle, an injury that ended his season. In Game 5 of last years AL championship series, Detroit backstop Alex Avila was pulled a couple of innings after being run over at the plate by Bostons David Ross, a fellow catcher. Authentic Hockey Jerseys . - The Oakland Athletics say they are stopping negotiations to extend their lease at the Coliseum. Wholesale Hockey Jerseys . Showing more spark after not taking enough challenging shots on goal in their 1-0 loss Friday night, the Bruins had 18 shots in the first period after managing just 25 in the entire opener. Luke Glendening cut Bostons lead to 2-1 at 13:20 of the second period before Milan Lucic scored late in the second and Zdeno Chara added a power-play goal early in the third. https://www.fakehockeyjerseys.com/ . Trailing 5-4 in the third set, the 12th-ranked Isner fought off two match points and evened it at 5-5 with consecutive aces. The former University of Georgia star had his only service break of the match to go up 6-5 before firing the last four of his 30 aces to close out Ginepri, an Atlanta resident ranked 281st. Custom Hockey Jerseys . CHAUNCEY BILLUPS (Pistons): Yes they got Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings in the off-season and Andre Drummond is a beast (teams are kicking themselves for passing on him - he rebounds and block shots every game - thats two more discernable and significant skills than most guys in his draft class), but dont for a second discount the impact of having a savvy veteran like Billups on your team. Cheap Hockey Jerseys . Louis Cardinals are one of Major League Baseballs model franchises. KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Braves pitcher Kris Medlen has injured a ligament in his right elbow for the second time in less than four years, and Atlanta says it is too early to determine the extent of the damage. Medlen had an MRI on Monday that revealed the injury, according to general manager Frank Wren. Wren said Tuesday the 28-year-old right-hander and the team will seek a second medical opinion. "I talked to him and he seems like hes in good spirits," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. Medlen felt the injury on Sunday while pitching against the New York Mets. He grabbed the elbow with two outs in the fourth inning and left with a trainer. Medlen tore his right ulnar collateral ligament while pitching against the Mets on Aug. 4, 2010, and was operated on by Dr. James Andrews that Aug. 18. Medlen didnt pitch for the Braves again until Sept. 25 the following year. He is expected to meet with Andrews this week. Brandon Beachyy, another right-hander in Atlantas projected starting rotation, left a game Monday because of tightness around his pitching elbow.dddddddddddd Beachy has been limited to a total of 18 starts over the past two seasons. Left-hander Mike Minor, who underwent urinary tract surgery on Dec. 31, is struggling with shoulder soreness. He hopes to pitch within the next week but could open the season on the disabled list. Atlanta could start the season without the trio, and Wren described the latest events as "worrisome." Julio Tehran hasnt allowed a run all spring training after pitching four shutout innings against Philadelphia on Tuesday and is likely to be joined in the starting rotation by Alex Wood, who pitches Wednesday against Washington in a split-squad game. Rookie David Hale was impressive during a call-up to the Braves last September, but he has struggled a bit this spring training. 18:35ET 11-03-14 ' ' '