Utley slide....
- Thread starter Kenny56
- Start date
Something tells me the Pirates felt pretty robbed when they saw this but no punishment for Kang being taken out
What was illegal about that slide? He went right over the base. And why the heck was middle infielder doing some kind of spin move on a DP attempt? That's just plain DUMB!!
Kenny, I said the same thing at work today. If he doesn't get hurt, my guess is Utley would be praised for the slide and being a consummate team guy. I thought it was questionable only because the shortstop had his back turned but again that's not on Utley either. Just a freak accident but that's part of the game
If the SS takes time to make that crazy move he has to know the runner is coming for him and get his feet in the air. That's what he should have done to start with.
Classic results oriented thinking by MLB. No injury, no suspension. Plenty of plays this season, with and w/o injuries, that are very similar to this one (by letter of the law in rule book)...and no suspension.
I don't know how there could be a suspension for what he did ever. He went right across 2nd base and all you have to do is be able to reach it. Holliday has done far worse than he did going waaay out of the baseline to get a guy. This was all on the SS for trying to make that turn thingee and not get the heck out of there.
By the letter of the MLB rule book, they're all illegal slides...the ones we are talking about...Kang, Utley, Holliday, there was one from this year that I can't remember who was involved...Quick Pitch had them all Monday morning. Had the rule book out reading straight from it. I can't remember the exact wording, but the guys talked about it and was pretty clear they were all illegal. But precedent says no suspension. That's what I think is on Utley's side in the appeal.
I don't have a rule book but how is it illegal to slide over the top of the base? If you do son and it's not a force play they can tag you out, not throw you out of the game. Middle infielders at any level know better than to hang around as long as that SS did. If he just got his feet in the air they wouldn't have gotten tangled up.
Again, can't remember the exact wording...but they all agreed it was outside the rules as they're written. Then Millar (I think) basically said the same thing you just did. It's how the game is played.
Anybody I've ever heard doing a game on TV has said you only have to be able to reach the base to keep it legal. That doesn't mean I think they know all the rules but it's been said that way for as long as I can remember. I do assume that means if you slide and not just take the guy out standing up.
