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

I think the only question at this point is ribs or ear hole.

Fenway - the picture that you're using is deceptive. It's not from last night game / play - although it does show that Utley comes in hot to break up DP's.   Here's a link to video - http://es.pn/1R5EZg4 .  

 

From this video it sure looks to me like Tejada tagged the bag. Not sure about being out for interference though. Utley slid (tackled) late to break it up. He was not out of base path though.

I don't have skin in the game with these two teams but this type of slide came up in a thread a month or so ago.  Yeah, he was sort of in the base path but didn't start sliding until WELL past the bag.  It seems to be within the MLB rules but they keep letting it get further and further out of control.  I've seen so many of these types of slides where there is clearly no intent to catch the bag and the slide starts or goes well beyond.  This needs to change.  Sliding hard INTO the bag is fine - part of the game.  Taking out the MIF that wants to occupy the space between runner and bag is fine - part of the game.  Going three feet PAST the bag or more should not be fine.  It's fairly easy to see.  I just don't get it.  The pic above is actually a perfect example.  He is well past the bag and just STARTING his slide.  No chance or intention of reaching the bag safely.  I guess it's going to take a flurry of torn up knees and broken legs to bring about obviously needed change, which is unfortunate.

My take is bad, bad, & bad. Utley doesn't hit the ground until after hitting Tejada. Tejada does touch the bag and Utley never tags second. Can't figure that one out there.  Didn't put the neighborhood play in for just that reason?

Can't wait to see who gets beaned on Monday. 

Phanatic,

 

My cut and paste skills aren't what they used to be without my reading glasses.  I've updated my picture.  You are right he is not out of the base path, however he did not slide until he was past the bag thereby initiating contact and not touching the bag on the slide.  

 

The talking heads keep talking about Utley's intent..."nobody knows Utley's intent".  That is absolute horsesh*t.  Utley's intent was to break up the play (score a run) any way possible and put the burden of the post season call on the Umpires  It worked. 

 

 

Made no attempt at bag, should have been ruled out, injury or no injury. IMO went beyond hard nosed and was dirty.

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Fenway - that is still the wrong picture. Here is the right one - :*)

 

 

+1 to ribs or ear hole

It's legal in pro ball...I don't agree with it, but it's legal.

Because of replay, the neighborhood play is no more.

I think it's time for Utley to go.  He was a great player but has reduced himself to a thug.

Bad.  If legal (and that is debatable), the rules need to be changed to where there is no debate.

 

Rule change will be called the "Utley" rule.

 

 

Really? Utley a thug? Give me a break.

 

Legal within the current rules, if they want to change it then change it, good hard nosed play. Stop the whining particularly, Pedro, wa wa wa. He can pick on 70 YO coach, but wants to whine about this? 

 

Sorry, move on, next game. 

 

I am a Dodger fan but LOVE those two flame throwers from the Mets! 

I think the Mets will win it also, Dodgers don't have the offense to handle really good pitching. 

I thought that the neighborhood play was non-reviewable?  Has this changed since they first came out with IR?  Thought i remembered them saying they were going to allow the neighborhood play stay and be a non-reviewable play in order to maintain the safety of the MIs?

Good intention to break up double play, bad execution. My two cents

If they make a rule to protect the catcher from getting drilled why wouldn't they protect the MIF from getting slaughtered? The SS was hit behind the bag, he wasn't gaining ground to 1B.

 

I thought the (slide?) was late. I understand these guys play for keeps and this was a must game.  I can even appreciate what Utley did, that type of slide is also dangerous to the slider. At the same time, it sure could be called dirty, but more importantly I thought it was kind of a dumb play by Utley.  That said, it is hard to believe how everything turned out.

 

First of all, Utley should have known this wasn't going to be a double play As soon as he saw the soft toss from the 2b.  Why would he take a chance on what the umpire might call?  If they did call interference, it actually would have been a double play and the Mets would have been out of the inning without scoring.

 

Then after the collision he never went back to touch the bag. A play that should never have happened changed the game completely.  And with the broken leg it could even change the series.

 

I would have called it a double play because it seemed Utley never went for the bag (not even with his hand) And it was late.  Furthermore, I think it was a very high risk play by Utley.  Had he been called out and it was called a double play, today everyone would be talking about how stupid that (slide?) was.

 

I don't favor either team, you can appreciate the effort, but to me this play was unnecessary and border line stupid, even though it worked out perfectly for the Dodgers.  If MLB calls this a legal slide, it is time to make a rule change to protect those MIF's without any protective equipment, just like they changed the rule to protect the catcher.

I'll be at the game Monday and Tuesday nights (lifelong Mets fan)...the retribution won't come until the game is out of hand or locked up...and don't assume it will come from a pitcher. Somebody may get run over very hard on the basepaths in this one. 

 

Either way the benches will clear on Monday or Tuesday in NYC. 

Unlike a pitcher purposely throwing at a hitter, I don't think Utley's intent was to injure anyone.  His intent was to break up a double play and do what is necessary to win a game the Dodgers desperately needed.

 

As mentioned before, I thought it wasn't a great decision on his part the way he did it and it wasn't necessary, but as sometimes happens, even the wrong play can turn into a winning play.

 

Bottom line, in my opinion, it was unnecessary.  If that is called legal, the rule needs to change.

 

I don't think there will be any retaliation by the Mets, unless it would be something they think will help them win a game.  Then again, it might be interesting if Utley had to turn a double play.

For the win!

Completely agree. I don't think Utley is a dirty player but this was a bad move on his part.  Though it may not technically be illegal it was totally unnecessary and likely to cause injury. 

Pretty sure he will Mets pitchers will not be quite as diplomatic as Collins.