MLB: MAJOR MISTAKE!
VIDEO: Trying to Make Sense Out of a Stupid Rule. Watch Video Below.
Today, we’re going to talk about takeout slides, the so-called Utley Rule and why it needs fixing posthaste. You’ve got opinions. We’ve got opinions. Everyone’s got opinions.
After the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Jung Ho Kang went down in the heat of the pennant race and the New York Mets’ Ruben Tejada was knocked out in front of a national audience in the division series against the Los Angeles Dodgers—both on aggressive sides by opposing baserunners—the pressure was simply too great.
After a Tampa Bay challenge and video review, umpires ruled that the Blue Jays’ Jose Bautista broke the Utley Rule while sliding into second on the play, as he slid past the bag and came into contact with Forsythe’s leg. And so the runs were nullified and the Rays won, 3-2.
Bautista was more diplomatic but no less defiant. “Common sense has to come into this,” he said, per Lacques. “I feel like I slid directly at the bag. I could have done much worse and chose not to.”
Three days later, on April 8, the Utley Rule struck again.
In the ninth inning of a game between the Houston Astros and Milwaukee Brewers, with runners at first and third and one out, Houston’s Colby Rasmus slid past the bag at second on a ground ball by teammate Jose Altuve. Umpire Dan Bellino called a double play, ending the game.
By Jacob Shafer ,
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2631899-mlbs-new-utley-rule-proving-to-be-mistake-in-need-of-quick-fix
