MLB Suspends Public Enemy #1 Utley For Two Games
NLDS Game #2 Dodger Stadium Los Angeles, California:
In the 7th inning, with one out & two men on, Bartolo Colon (on in relief) threw what looked like a possible double play ball to Howie Kendrick.
As Utley came into second to break up the play, he was no where near the base. He gave a dirty tackle /slide/ then collided with Mets short stop. Ruben Tejada. Tejada landed & broke his fibula. Although Utley took a knee to the head it still knocked no sense into him. It was the that rocked the baseball world, the biggest in Mets playoff history since Pete Rose & Bud Harrelson went at it 42 years ago.
The umpires blew the call & it led to the Dodgers winning 5-2 to even the series. But now some justice has been served. MLB has suspended Chase Utley for Game 3 & 4 of the series.
The MLB man in charge of discipline Joe Torre said: "After thoroughly reviewing the play from all conceivable angles, I have concluded that Mr. Utley's action warrants discipline. While I sincerely believe that Mr. Utley had no intention of injuring Ruben Tejada, and was attempting to help his Club in a critical situation, I believe his slide was in violation of Official Baseball Rule 5.09 (a) (13), which is designed to protect fielders from precisely this type of rolling block that occurs away from the base.
The determination of whether a base runner has intentionally interfered with a player attempting to turn a double play is left to the judgment of the Umpire on the field, and that judgment call is not subject to review. I should add that determining where to draw the line between an illegal slide and a legitimate hard play is an extremely difficult call for our Umpires."
Second base umpire Chris Guccione blew the call by not calling Utley out & having the inning end with a double play.
Hopefully Mets fans will let him hear it & it's nice to know he's got two days to think about how he'll be greeted in New York.
The Mets said in a statement: "The Mets feel this was the appropriate course of action. With this decision behind us, the team and our fans can now focus on playing winning baseball."
Apparently Utley apologized to Tejada through a text to David Wright. Wright said after the game he had a problem with the play on a number of different levels.
Mets manager Terry Collins said, the Mets players are angry.
Dodger Manager Don Mattingly cried that if it had been Wright who made the slide, it would have been ok with Mets fans. What's that all about???
Matt Harvey said he'll take care of business in Game #3 & hopes there won't be no pre game warnings.
So now it's Wilmer Flores back in the spot light once again, Lets go Mets, win it for Ruben!!
** update: Utley appealed & will be available to play Game #3. In fact a centerfieldmaz friend who works at Citi saw Utley enter the stadium with four security guards earlier on 10/12/15.
As Utley came into second to break up the play, he was no where near the base. He gave a dirty tackle /slide/ then collided with Mets short stop. Ruben Tejada. Tejada landed & broke his fibula. Although Utley took a knee to the head it still knocked no sense into him. It was the that rocked the baseball world, the biggest in Mets playoff history since Pete Rose & Bud Harrelson went at it 42 years ago.
The umpires blew the call & it led to the Dodgers winning 5-2 to even the series. But now some justice has been served. MLB has suspended Chase Utley for Game 3 & 4 of the series.
The determination of whether a base runner has intentionally interfered with a player attempting to turn a double play is left to the judgment of the Umpire on the field, and that judgment call is not subject to review. I should add that determining where to draw the line between an illegal slide and a legitimate hard play is an extremely difficult call for our Umpires."
Hopefully Mets fans will let him hear it & it's nice to know he's got two days to think about how he'll be greeted in New York.
The Mets said in a statement: "The Mets feel this was the appropriate course of action. With this decision behind us, the team and our fans can now focus on playing winning baseball."
Mets manager Terry Collins said, the Mets players are angry.
Dodger Manager Don Mattingly cried that if it had been Wright who made the slide, it would have been ok with Mets fans. What's that all about???
So now it's Wilmer Flores back in the spot light once again, Lets go Mets, win it for Ruben!!
** update: Utley appealed & will be available to play Game #3. In fact a centerfieldmaz friend who works at Citi saw Utley enter the stadium with four security guards earlier on 10/12/15.
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