New collision rule no problem for d'Arnaud

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Major League Baseball's new rule regarding home-plate collisions is not a complete ban, which suits Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud just fine.

d'Arnaud expressed some concern last week over a proposed ban of collisions, which he described as instinctual plays that he personally enjoys. The new rule, which is experimental for 2014, only bans catchers from blocking the plate without possession of the ball, and baserunners from deviating from their direct path to the plate to initiate collisions. The league described those situations as "the most egregious collisions at home plate."

"It's part of being a catcher," d'Arnaud said last week. "Say, for example, it's Game 6 of the World Series and I'm told I can't block the plate. Well, my instincts are going to tell me to save that run from being scored."

The Mets, however, banned d'Arnaud from engaging in collisions last season, and they are issuing an organization-wide mandate for all of their catchers this year.

The league also announced that instant replay will be available to review potential violations of the new rule.