What would happen if the runner slid into first and went past the bag and took out the first baseman like Utley did? The call is going to be interference and probably an ejection.
No. Just no. That would never be the call in pro ball.
I do completely agree with you that the suspension is wrong since he technically didn't break a rule. I still believe if they had called interference off the bat nobody would have said a word.
Again, no. This was a legal play, akin to those occurring dozens of times this year with no calls, and was looked at by two umpire crews with the same conclusion. If this had been ruled interference, everyone would have flipped.
In the first situation no that will never happen. There's not a runner in almost any level of baseball that would do this. I was trying to make a comparison but maybe it's not a good one.
As for the second one. My rational mind understands you're right but I just can't wrap my head around the fact that there can't be a rule associated with this play. These types of "slides" are very rare and that's why I don't think we need to overreact and create a ton of rules. But there has to be some sort of protection given to fielders from cheap shots. What Utley did was a cheap shot. It makes me think of in an NFL game on an interception and a lineman 30 yards away from the play gets hit from the blindside. That used to be legal as well but they figured out cheap shots need to be outlawed. Cheap shots like this need to be outlawed.
BTW I hate the Mets