SIAP and OT: Utley/Tejada incident

[Soda Popinski]

Just interested to see what people think about it. Suspension? No suspension? Dirty play? Game-winning play? Rule change?

There are so many variables at play, it's kind of a fascinating study for an old baseball guy like me.

 

[planored]

It was certainly late and on the dirty side for me. Utley was given 2 game suspension but his appeal won't be heard today so he can actually play tonight. I was a bit surprised by the suspension actually. These type of incidents have a way of being policed on the field.

 

[leodisflowers]

I think the slide was late, but it's baseball. I've seen plenty of late slides busting things up, and the only reason they are looking into is because the guy got hurt. If he pops right up it is a non-issue. Pussification of America has taken over.

 

[Soda Popinski]

No question, for me it was dirty. There is certainly perecedent for a slide like that, however. Unfortunately, the self-policing side of the game is barely allowed to exist anymore so I don't expect much of a retaliation by the Mets pitching staff tonight.

It's clear to me that the suspension is a direct result of Tejada's injury. What I don't understand is how they think they can suspend the guy when there have been slides like that for years without any punishment. A heater between the shoulder blades for Utley would be a fitting punishment in my opinion.

 

[JHball]

Hard slide, cleats down and he could touch the bag. That's playoff baseball. Hal McRae, now that was dirty.

 

[schuele]

I would have been okay with the entire play - no interference call, no suspension - if the umpiring crew hadn't seen fit to review the play and then somehow determine that Utley was safe. Apparently they decided that the neighborhood play (which is specifically NOT reviewable) was "off" because of a wide throw from the second baseman. That is complete BS. The throw was absolutely fine, and Tejada's footwork around the bag was entirely consistent with the neighborhood play. So I really do not understand how in the world they can call Utley safe there, given the stipulation that the neighborhood play is not reviewable.

The suspension seems like an attempted make-good on Joe Torre's part, but it's not going to erase the three runs that scored in that inning after that should have been the 3rd out.

 

[EyeLuvDaHuskerz]

Just interested to see what people think about it. Suspension? No suspension? Dirty play? Game-winning play? Rule change?

There are so many variables at play, it's kind of a fascinating study for an old baseball guy like me.

If that play doesn't result in injury, there's absolutely no talk of a suspension. You don't issue suspensions based on unintended consequences -- especially when plays JUST like that have been happening for decades without any punishment.

Apparently MLB decided to join hands with the NFL in doling out half-assed arbitrary punishments.

 

[SDhusker12]

Hard slide, cleats down and he could touch the bag. That's playoff baseball. Hal McRae, now that was dirty.

Are you kidding?!? He didnt start sliding UNTIL the bag...this was bush league beyond belief. I understand sliding hard to break up a double play, but this was ridiculously late. He looked like a 10 year old just learned how to slide.

 

[rrthusker]

Not a fan of either team but Utley slid late and not into the bag but into Tejeda. IMO it was a dirty play and goes beyond what is legal.
Most Dodger fans here are fine with what he did. I`m sure Met fans feel the opposite. For most guys here who seem to be Royals fans,
ask yourselves how you would feel if Utley did this to your SS.

 

[otter 3030]

Clean play. Welcome to old time playoff baseball. In basketball, they say "No layups in the playoffs". In baseball, no double plays with a runner on 3rd.
He could have slid earlier but Tejada could have taken the 1 out and bailed. It was a soft liner, he wouldn't have gotten the out at first on any reasonable runner.
Not dirty, HARD.

 

[otter 3030]

Clean play. Welcome to old time playoff baseball. In basketball, they say "No layups in the playoffs". In baseball, no double plays with a runner on 3rd.
He could have slid earlier but Tejada could have taken the 1 out and bailed. It was a soft liner, he wouldn't have gotten the out at first on any reasonable runner.
Not dirty, HARD.

 

[anon_umk0ifu6vj6zi]

That was a bullshit slide. As a middle-infielder in todays game, Utley is a clown. Dirty as hell

 

[SDhusker12]

Not a fan of either team but Utley slid late and not into the bag but into Tejeda. IMO it was a dirty play and goes beyond what is legal.
Most Dodger fans here are fine with what he did. I`m sure Met fans feel the opposite. For most guys here who seem to be Royals fans,
ask yourselves how you would feel if Utley did this to your SS.

Im a Mets fan so Im a little extreme, but yea I agree I felt it was a terrible play. This is coming from a guy that played baseball on many different levels so Ive seen my fair share.

 

[huskerfan1414]

I've seen my share of baseball. I've seen my share of slides. I've seen my share of borderline "dirty" slides.
I don't know how anyone can honestly say that wasn't a dirty slide. That was so beyond dirty it was like a parody making fun of sliding into the 2nd baseman. Except this was real.

 

[JHball]

Are you kidding?!? He didnt start sliding UNTIL the bag...this was bush league beyond belief. I understand sliding hard to break up a double play, but this was ridiculously late. He looked like a 10 year old just learned how to slide.

This is only bush league if you don't like old school baseball. You act like he was trying to hurt him. He was trying to take him out and he did his job. Not a Dodger fan btw

 

[mel mains]

I would have been okay with the entire play - no interference call, no suspension - if the umpiring crew hadn't seen fit to review the play and then somehow determine that Utley was safe. Apparently they decided that the neighborhood play (which is specifically NOT reviewable) was "off" because of a wide throw from the second baseman. That is complete BS. The throw was absolutely fine, and Tejada's footwork around the bag was entirely consistent with the neighborhood play. So I really do not understand how in the world they can call Utley safe there, given the stipulation that the neighborhood play is not reviewable.

The suspension seems like an attempted make-good on Joe Torre's part, but it's not going to erase the three runs that scored in that inning after that should have been the 3rd out.

I agree. The whole point of the neighborhood rule is to protect the middle infielder. Using replay on those calls is a bad idea - just like with the Royals at third base this evening, that cannot be how review was envisioned.

 

[SDhusker12]

This is only bush league if you don't like old school baseball. You act like he was trying to hurt him. He was trying to take him out and he did his job. Not a Dodger fan btw

Had he started his slide slightly before the bag I would be a-ok with it, but he didnt start until he was beside the bag...granted it wasnt as bad as the one back in the day where Willie Randolph was basically tackled, but this was bad. Hell Joe Torre is the one who handed the suspension down so its not like its a guy who hasnt been there.

 

[JHball]

Had he started his slide slightly before the bag I would be a-ok with it, but he didnt start until he was beside the bag...granted it wasnt as bad as the one back in the day where Willie Randolph was basically tackled, but this was bad. Hell Joe Torre is the one who handed the suspension down so its not like its a guy who hasnt been there.

Where does it say you have to start your slide before the bag? If he would have dug his cleats in his shin then I would have agreed. He took him out, plain and simple. No different than bulldogging a catcher back before Buster Posey got hurt. If Utley plays against the Mets next year he'll get his and that's fine, because that's baseball

 

[SDhusker12]

Where does it say you have to start your slide before the bag? If he would have dug his cleats in his shin then I would have agreed. He took him out, plain and simple. No different than bulldogging a catcher back before Buster Posey got hurt. If Utley plays against the Mets next year he'll get his and that's fine, because that's baseball

Yes he will, but thats the problem with baseball. Its why it is falling behind every major sport. It doesnt adapt to chsnging times. I love the hell out of the game, and as a former catcher it is completely different. I got bulldozed a couple times ( both times kid was thrown out obviously) and you are bracing for any impact. As a shortstop trying to turn and jump over the runner sliding you are in a much more vulnerable position.

 

[Soda Popinski]

I see both sides. I love old school baseball and stories about Ty Cobb and his "adventures", shall we say.

I never even wanted replay in the game. I always thought that baseball had a unique way of bringing umpires into the game because there are so many subjective rules and interpretations of those rules.

MLB, however, doesn't agree with me. The game isn't the same as it used to be, and the people in charge are trying to make the game more palatable for everyone.

Heck, I was watching highlights of hard slides through the years (I was inspired) and saw one where in the 1977 ALCS, George Brett hit a triple, slid into 3rd, popped up, decked the 3rd baseman, started a brawl and wasn't ejected from the game. Different times.

 

[SC_'sker]

That was a bullshit slide. As a middle-infielder in todays game, Utley is a clown. Dirty as hell

THIS!

 

[anon_umk0ifu6vj6zi]

THIS!

25 or 30 years ago that is how they played the game. Times change, most people stopped breathing through their mouths (not apparent by this board lately). When salaries got ridiculous, the investments on these guys needs to be protected. That slide would have pissed off most rational-thinking "old timers"

 

[sparky62]

I've seen that video at least 15 times. That wasn't a hard slide. When he started his slide he was almost past the bag & 3' to the right. IMO he should be suspended for the remainder of the playoffs & series. That was garbage. I'm all for a hard slide to break up a DP, but that was beyond sportsmanship.

 

[Soda Popinski]

I've seen that video at least 15 times. That wasn't a hard slide. When he started his slide he was almost past the bag & 3' to the right. IMO he should be suspended for the remainder of the playoffs & series. That was garbage. I'm all for a hard slide to break up a DP, but that was beyond sportsmanship.

I would argue that a suspension at this point would be completely reactionary. A reaction to the result and not the action. There are 100 years of precedent of not punishing slides like these. In my opinion, it would be perfectly fair after the season to make it a point to enforce the current rules (awarding a double play) and fine players going forward.

Btw I agree it was a dirty slide.

 

[SDhusker12]

I would argue that a suspension at this point would be completely reactionary. A reaction to the result and not the action. There are 100 years of precedent of not punishing slides like these. In my opinion, it would be perfectly fair after the season to make it a point to enforce the current rules (awarding a double play) and fine players going forward.

Btw I agree it was a dirty slide.

I can agree with your point. Me being a Mets fan I wanted a suspension haha!. However, I think something needs to be put in place for safety reasons. Just because something has always been done a certain way doesnt mean its right. If that was the case football would still be played with no helmets and guys spearing eachither neck down lol.