Chase Utley suspended 2 games for dangerous slide

[The Comish]

you're comparing apples and oranges. A slash in hockey breaking a players wrist or injuring their wrist in general is a penalty because it is breaking a rule. What utley did might be considered wrong, but no rules were broken. His slide is fully allowable under the rules. So suspending him is the wrong move because he technically do nothing wrong. They will change the rule now, but you can't suspend a guy who didn't break the rules.

I guess it depends on how you interpret the rules. Some are saying that Utley's slide was in contravention of the rules, but that MLB has not been very vigilant in calling this over the years. The fact that MLB suspended Utley for two games means nothing? Why would they suspend him if he didn't break the rules?

I remember Adam Graves whacking Mario Lemieux on the gloves (I think it was a playoff game if I'm not mistaken) and he broke Mario's wrist. Graves did not get a penalty as this type of whacking was considered a part of the game. Yes, apples and orangutans.

I get that we are on opposite sides of this discussion, but if you don't see anything wrong with what Utley (and hundreds of others) did, then we have nothing more to discuss.

[GinFizz]

Hes contesting it, so he's playing today. I doubt the league wouldn't have thought he'd appeal it.

oh wow.. just read that. thanks for clarification. NY is going to piss all over him.

[GinFizz]

He is not in the lineup tonight.

[2014olympicgold]

but is he on the bench?

[islefan31]

In the end it doesn't really matter. The Mets lose their starting shortstop and because the umps blew the call, it changed and probably cost the Mets the game.

[mojavedesert]

but is he on the bench?

Yes, just not in the starting lineup.

[Rylant]

Does it really matter that the Umpire didn't see it that way? Utley full on admitted that he was trying to slide into Tejada to break up the double play. By his own admission, he broke the rules... Not sure what kind of grounds he has for an appeal.

Rylant

[2014olympicgold]

He’ll just show video of other similar plays and say why didn’t they get suspended. It has nothing to do with his play. It’s like when a kid goes to the grocery store with his mom and points to some other kid and says, “But that kid has 2 chocolate bars!”

I think it’s a suspendable play, but it might be reduced to 1, making him unavailable for game 4. Per the rule I said earlier, to me he broke it. It’s a rule up for interpretation however. he’ll just show other games

[Big Ev]

Does it really matter that the Umpire didn't see it that way? Utley full on admitted that he was trying to slide into Tejada to break up the double play. By his own admission, he broke the rules... Not sure what kind of grounds he has for an appeal.

Rylant

tell me what rule he broke. Sliding to break up a double play happens all the time. Him admitting that does not mean he broke a rule.

[2014olympicgold]

tell me what rule he broke. Sliding to break up a double play happens all the time. Him admitting that does not mean he broke a rule.

Rule 5.09(a)(13) reads as follows:
The objective of this rule is to penalize the offensive team for deliberate, unwarranted, unsportsmanlike action by the runner in leaving the baseline for the obvious purpose of crashing the pivot man on a double play, rather than trying to reach the base. Obviously, this is an umpire's judgment play.

[Big Ev]

Rule 5.09(a)(13) reads as follows:
The objective of this rule is to penalize the offensive team for deliberate, unwarranted, unsportsmanlike action by the runner in leaving the baseline for the obvious purpose of crashing the pivot man on a double play, rather than trying to reach the base. Obviously, this is an umpire's judgment play.

and in the judgment of the umpire, he broke no rules.

[2014olympicgold]

and in the judgment of the umpire, he broke no rules.

But to the league he did. This happens in any sport. Real time it’s hard to judge, slow-mo shows (to whoever made the suspension decision) he targeted the player trying to turn a double play in an unsportsmanlike manner.

I’m pretty sure if the Ump decides the play breaks this rule, both players are out regardless if they are safe on the play. So even tho Utley was technically safe (2B didn’t have his foot on the bag), he could have been called out (as well as the guy who hit) if the Ump decided Utley broke Rule 5.09(a)(13).

I have 0 doubt in my mind that if the Mets player didn’t get hurt, Utley wouldn’t have been suspended. However, he did break the rule, and the league confirmed it. This play does go unpenalized a lot, but it is an illegal play.

[Rylant]

tell me what rule he broke. Sliding to break up a double play happens all the time. Him admitting that does not mean he broke a rule.

As 2014olympicgold has now said twice in this thread, Utley broke rule 5.09(a)(13). Since Utley never even touched second base in his slide, and since he admitted his intent, this should be a slam dunk case against him. I find it interesting, that you have a history of being vocal against "dirty" play, yet you seem to be defending Utley to a ridiculous level on something that I would consider to be a black-and-white "dirty" play.

I also agree that Utley's defense in this will be to cite precedent. I also think, that is a shitty defense.

Rylant

[Big Ev]

As 2014olympicgold has now said twice in this thread, Utley broke rule 5.09(a)(13). Since Utley never even touched second base in his slide, and since he admitted his intent, this should be a slam dunk case against him. I find it interesting, that you have a history of being vocal against "dirty" play, yet you seem to be defending Utley to a ridiculous level on something that I would consider to be a black-and-white "dirty" play.

I also agree that Utley's defense in this will be to cite precedent. I also think, that is a shitty defense.

Rylant

I guess we just disagree on whether or not it is dirty. Fair enough. I'm not the only one saying he shouldn't be suspended as they would have to change the rule to do that.

[2014olympicgold]

I guess we just disagree on whether or not it is dirty. Fair enough. I'm not the only one saying he shouldn't be suspended as they would have to change the rule to do that.

What do you mean they need to change the rule?

I think it’s vague and rewording it would benefit this circumstance, but it still reads if he deliberately does a takeout it’s breaking the rules. Removing “leaving the baseline” from the rule (to me) would help. Just leave it at “if the baserunner deliberately (maliciously) takes out the pivot man on a double play”. To make it a judgement call (which most of these suspensions are across all sports), the words maliciously, unsportsmanlike, or anything like that should be in there. A player can disrupt a double play by sliding, and not put the pivot man in a spot to be seriously injured.

His slide is the only thing I don’t like, this play happens a lot, but he slide way off the base, and he started his slide very late. He’s past the bag when he is sliding (but on the ground).