The Chase Utley "slide." We have all seen, heard and argued about by now. Dodgers and Mets fans going back and forth on Twitter discussing if it was a legal slide, how Utley was essentially safe (according to MLB), and what the game would be like if he did not do that to Ruben Tejada.
As a Mets fan, I obviously have strong opinions and arguments as to why Utley's slide was dirty and illegal. Major League Baseball seems to share those opinions because Utley was suspended for Game 3 and Game 4 in this playoff series against the Mets. At first, I was pumped. "At least, MLB got this call right," I said.
Then, I was thinking more about and I got more and more frustrated. Two days after the incident that broke the Mets' shortstop's leg, MLB ruled Utley's "slide" illegal. Had the umpires called it illegal during the game, both Utley and Howie Kendrick (the batter) would have been called "out." Double play. Inning over. Instead, they ruled overturned Utley's "out" call, leaving him and Kendrick on the bases to score. Addison Reed, the Mets' reliever, did throw two questionable two-strike pitches that the Dodgers' offense took advantage of. However, if Utley's slide had the correct ruling from the get-go, Reed would not have even been in the game. The inning would have been over, and the score would have been 2-1 Mets, going into the eighth.
The man of only so many words, Mets' manager Terry Collins, answered the post-game questions on the slide with the statement, "Well, it broke my shortstop's leg." Outfielder Michael Cuddyer referred to the slide as a "tackle." Second baseman Kelly Johnson made the point that, for the slide to be legal, the runner should have to touch the dirt first, which Utley did not. At all. Captain and third baseman David Wright said, "I have a lot of questions that have yet to be answered."
Fans, current and former MLB players, current and former Mets teammates, reporters and writers took the incident to Twitter. And, when I say that, I mean Twitter was blowing up over this.
Colorado Rockies' shortstop, former Met and mentor to Ruben Tejada, tweeted:
Current Fox Sports reported, former SNY reporter (the Mets' television channel), made this great point:A few years ago, MLB instated a rule that protected catchers from getting pummeled at the plate. And, rightfully so. It was not until this play and everyone realized middle infielders need that same protection, if not more of it. Plays at the plate happen all the time, so it was more of a front-runner in the "rule makers" minds, yet the breaking up of a double play happens, too. Catchers are decked out in gear from head to toe. Middle infielders wear nothing protective. Therefore, they need that protection from the rule book. I am not saying to make all hard slides illegal because "baseball plays" are a part of the game. But, this was not a "baseball play," as everyone was claiming. It was Chase Utley's "tackle" in Game 2 of the NLDS that is going to make MLB consider rulings for these types of plays. If not, they are going to use this as an example and learning opportunity.
As for the Mets', they are ready to fight. Citi Field is going to be rocking these next few games because now they have more to play for. They have to play for the pennant. They have to play for each other. They have to play for the fans. Now, they have to play in retaliation for MLB's significant blunder. Now, they have to play for Ruben Tejada. The promising, young shortstop that was taken out of the postseason because Chase Utley decided to take out his legs at second base. Good news for us Mets fans: Matt Harvey's on the mound Game 3.
Time to #GoWithTheFlo and #WinForRuben