Reply to "800 LB Gorilla in the Room - Bad or Good Call on the Utley "Slide" in NLDS"

bballman10,000+ posts

Originally Posted by SluggerDad:

Utley himself basically said that his intention wasn't to reach the base but to "put a body on the fielder" in order to break up the double play. If you target the fielder and don't even make an attempt at the base, tell me how that is not interference? Tell me how that is not unsportsmanlike conduct?

For one thing because umpires can't read people's minds. They can only interpret rules. The rule is basically, that when you slide, you have to be within reach of the bag. Clearly, Utley was in reach of the bag. EVERY player's intent going into 2nd in that situation is to break up the DP, within the rule set they are playing. Utley was within the rule set of MLB. It's really that simple.

10/12/1512:21 PM

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