Chase Utley's slide

[John_Havok]

He wasn't trying to hurt him unfortunate but these types of plays will happen every once in awhile. You can't take away the ability to break up double plays. What are they going to do rule an automatic double play. Baseball is trying to get scoring up. Poor positioning didn't help either.

 

He didn't even slide until he was at the base. That's past the point of hustle and into the realm of reckless.

[o2cui2i]

He didn't even slide until he was at the base. That's past the point of hustle and into the realm of reckless.

 

it's really strange that the commissioner hasn't addressed this type of play. it's happened a lot in the last 2 weeks and if they keep letting it happen the league is only embarrassing itself, but then that's nothing new to baseball.

[canadiansportsjunkie]

He didn't even slide until he was at the base. That's past the point of hustle and into the realm of reckless.

 

To be honest I don't like the play BUT I believe Utley was a bit off guard that the ball didn't go up the middle that is why the slide was late...that's how it looked

[o2cui2i]

MLB network said today that the commissioner's office is looking at the play to see if they should have disciplinary action... the baseball world knows it was a dirty play and if they put up enough of a stink they might be forced to do the right thing. SMH

[Nafro]

Does anyone find it ironic that Adrian Beltre injured himself trying to break up a double play? Also that JD missed half the first game for the same reason.

[John_Havok]

Does anyone find it ironic that Adrian Beltre injured himself trying to break up a double play? Also that JD missed half the first game for the same reason.

 

No. All three slides were different. Just because they were all trying to break up a double play doesn't mean each slide was the same. Utley was reckelss. Donaldson was borderline in a big way. Beltre slid straight into the base after the fielder had already moved and just made a poor fundamental slide resulting in an injury.

[fapaholic]

No way I can get mad at Utley when this is common place in baseball. Feel sorry for Ruben though.

 

Utley would probably be screaming if that happened to him...so yeah it's ok to be mad at him.

 

Also why the $%^# do we have rules to protect catchers who are all wearing protective gear, but none for infielders who are often caught off balance?

[Krylian]

Don't hate on Ryan, bro!

 

He belongs in the same sentence as those other guys?

[canadiansportsjunkie]

I heard Utley suspended wrong call IMO

[Grant77]

Utley being suspended is disgraceful. You can't just change the rules in the middle of the postseason; this same slide wasn't punished all year.

 

What they should have done was address this in the offseason and make clear that suspensions are on the table for 2016.

 

I liked Manfred at first, but I find myself disagreeing with every emotional and reactionary decision he makes.

[Atothe]

MLB reacting to social media instead of being reasonable

[John_Havok]

Utley being suspended is disgraceful. You can't just change the rules in the middle of the postseason; this same slide wasn't punished all year.

 

What they should have done was address this in the offseason and make clear that suspensions are on the table for 2016.

 

I liked Manfred at first, but I find myself disagreeing with every emotional and reactionary decision he makes.

 

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/154097810/dodgers-chase-utley-suspended-for-slide

 

Suspended for games 3 and 4. Felt he violated Official Baseball Rule 5.09 (a)(13)

[Grant77]

If we're going to start enforcing all of the rules:

 

Rule 4.03(a): The Catcher's Balk

A catcher can be called for a balk if he does not "stand with both feet within the lines of the catcher's box until the ball leaves the pitcher's hand."

 

Chirinos committed this infraction during the intentional walk to Encarnacion.

[Atothe]

[Grant77]

Joe Torre's explanation just makes this decision sound even worse.

 

Joe: "Well..uh...I can't worry about what happened in the past"

 

Yes you can! Rule enforcement in-season can't be inconsistent, ESPECIALLY in the post-season.

 

Few other than knuckleheads like Zaun like to see this, but they have let it go forever and they have to live with that mistake.

[AdamGreenwood]

I think it was a dirty slide, but this thing has been going on for a long time without penalization.

It seems inconsistent to apply it now.

 

I think they should have let it go, and dealt with it in the offseason, and announced greater enforcement of the rules in the offseason.

Plus, I was really looking forward to seeing the Mets drill Utley.

[candymartinez]

I think it was a dirty slide, but this thing has been going on for a long time without penalization.

It seems inconsistent to apply it now.

 

I think they should have let it go, and dealt with it in the offseason, and announced greater enforcement of the rules in the offseason.

Plus, I was really looking forward to seeing the Mets drill Utley.

 

Feel the same way 100%

[Krylian]

f*** Utley! I'm glad he got suspended.

[Grant77]

f*** Utley! I'm glad he got suspended.

 

That's the kind of ignorant and emotional response that pressured them into making the wrong decision.

[TheHurl]

emotion not ethics rule sport decisions. That's just what happens these days, and I'm okay with it cause it gives us stuff to talk about.

[Atlas]

I think MLB weakly trying to save face over the controversy over the entire play in general, and how the challenge/replay system was used and they get call wrong anyway. How is a runner who never touches the bag called out, and then safe after review is beyond me?!?!

 

Umps hate the replay system because it makes them look... "Human"....but look even worse when they use the video replay and still get the call wrong.

 

The whole thing was just a monumental cluster-f*ck to begin with!

[Krylian]

That's the kind of ignorant and emotional response that pressured them into making the wrong decision.

 

His slide was an intent to injure. It's a suspendable offence. The fact that it's happened in the past without suspension doesn't mean you're not allowed to suspend going forward. There should have been more suspensions in the past...and it's never too late to correct bad past decisions.

 

Again...f*** Utley!

[Grant77]

His slide was an intent to injure. It's a suspendable offence. The fact that it's happened in the past without suspension doesn't mean you're not allowed to suspend going forward. There should have been more suspensions in the past...and it's never too late to correct bad past decisions.

 

Again...f*** Utley!

 

I posted this earlier:

 

Rule 4.03(a): The Catcher's Balk

A catcher can be called for a balk if he does not "stand with both feet within the lines of the catcher's box until the ball leaves the pitcher's hand."

 

Should we start enforcing this, or are you a hypocrite whose opinions have no merit?

[Krylian]

I posted this earlier:

 

Rule 4.03(a): The Catcher's Balk

A catcher can be called for a balk if he does not "stand with both feet within the lines of the catcher's box until the ball leaves the pitcher's hand."

 

Should we start enforcing this, or are you a hypocrite whose opinions have no merit?

 

If this Catcher's balk causes broken bones then yes. I've never seen a violent balk before but maybe you have.

 

Have a clue. We're talking about player safety, and reckless play...and your argument is a balk? GTFO!

[Grant77]

If this Catcher's balk causes broken bones then yes. I've never seen a violent balk before but maybe you have.

 

Have a clue. We're talking about player safety, and reckless play...and your argument is a balk? GTFO!

 

You're making an emotional and illogical argument about 'enforcing the rules' when they don't do it and never have. It's the f***ing playoffs, everything is at stake. For MLB to suddenly change the way they do things is just absurd. If this were a court of law and not a autocracy, Joe Torre and Rob Manfred would be laughed out of the room.

 

Also, if you are naive and stupid enough to think that this will have ANY effect on 'player safety' for the remainder of the playoffs, I have a plot of land to sell you, real cheap.

 

Edit: 85% of these players you are so concerned about thought the suspension was wrong.

Edited October 12, 2015 by Grant77
New info

[pickoff22]

Utley didn't mean to injure anyone, he meant to break up a double play. Just like players do almost every day in the league, you just don't see it when no one gets injured. I absolutely believe those types of slides need to be stopped as we've seen far too many middle infielders get injured, but to finally "throw the hammer" during the playoffs on Utley is stupid. He did what the rules allowed him to do - I don't agree with the rules (or lack of) but you don't make an example of a guy in the playoffs for this.

[Krylian]

You're making an emotional and illogical argument about 'enforcing the rules' when they don't do it and never have. It's the f***ing playoffs, everything is at stake. For MLB to suddenly change the way they do things is just absurd. If this were a court of law and not a autocracy, Joe Torre and Rob Manfred would be laughed out of the room.

 

Also, if you are naive and stupid enough to think that this will have ANY effect on 'player safety' for the remainder of the playoffs, I have a plot of land to sell you, real cheap.

 

Edit: 85% of these players you are so concerned about thought the suspension was wrong.

 

I'm curious where that 85% comes from. If accurate, I'm very surprised...and disappointed.

[Krylian]

Utley didn't mean to injure anyone, he meant to break up a double play. Just like players do almost every day in the league, you just don't see it when no one gets injured. I absolutely believe those types of slides need to be stopped as we've seen far too many middle infielders get injured, but to finally "throw the hammer" during the playoffs on Utley is stupid. He did what the rules allowed him to do - I don't agree with the rules (or lack of) but you don't make an example of a guy in the playoffs for this.

 

I understand what his intention was, but starting your slide once you've basically already passed the bag? No.

[Grant77]

I'm curious where that 85% comes from. If accurate, I'm very surprised...and disappointed.

 

From foxsports:

'

"The overwhelming opinion on this matter was no, with 55 of the 65 players believing that there should be no discipline handed down from MLB for Utley."

[Grant77]

I understand what his intention was, but starting your slide once you've basically already passed the bag? No.

 

Is anyone here actually arguing that players shouldn't do this anymore? It's the fairness and discipline aspect that is in question