Utley Suspended for Games 3&4

[Hollyw00d]

He didn't start sliding until he was on top of the base, dirty ass play

[CaliAngel]

So MLB suspends Utley for an illegal takeout slide at second base but then called him safe on the play even though he never touched second base.

 

Brilliant work MLB.

 

Yeah I'm not really sure what the point of MLB Replay is for they really don't seem to do a good job of making correct calls. Pretty much they're 50/50 which is about what the umpires do anyway.

 

I don't understand again how the guy could possibly be safe if he never touched 2nd base.

 

Honestly the game from that point on should be protested and started from that point just because of all the bullsh*t that no doubt gave an unfair advantage to the Dodgers. Double play, out of the inning, Mets come up to bat in the 8th leading with the score 2-0.

[Hollyw00d]

2 Games.....

Quick, add the sosh nutsack bulge pic

[Troll Daddy]

He was called out before the slide ... why should he touch second base. The out call negates him having to tag the bag (it was a force out). When the call was overturned he was REWARDED second base.

It's that simple ... that is the rule not mine.

Edited October 12, 2015 by Troll Daddy

[laagamer]

To me it looks like most of them have the base runner sliding before the bag. So the only ones I find against the rules are the ones well out of the reach of 2nd base.

 

You could also argue Utley's last night. That was my biggest concern with the slide itself, disregarding the fact he didn't touch 2B.

 

He was well wide of second base in attempt to take out the runner. Interference. Batter-runner out. 

[arch stanton]

I never liked how this is "part of the game". Baseball is not a contact sport, until suddenly there's a chance to take someone out at the knees, or run full speed into them at the plate? They pretty much fixed one of those issues, but the other is still around.

And they fixed the other issue by telling the defensive player to stay out of harm's way. All they really need to do about this is call the automatic DP if the runner can't reach the bag. Enforce the existing interference rule.

[m0nkey]

People call out td for being dumb yet here he is getting all the reaction he's looking for. He's the Stephen a smith of angelswin.com

[Troll Daddy]

People call out td for being dumb yet here he is getting all the reaction he's looking for. He's the Stephen a smith of angelswin.com

I don't believe anything I posted on this subject you can disagree with ... except whether you want to call it dirty or clean.

Utleys goal was to takeout the double play clean or not.

[AngelsFanSince86]

They look the same....

 

 

They are similar taken out of context.  The one with Utley is taken after he had already collided and been knocked back a bit.  He went in with his shoulder in front of his feet or knees.  He neither dove head first or performed anything remotely resembling a feet first slide. Donaldson has one foot straight out and the other bent in forming a figure four (aka a slide).  For a professional athlete who is constantly aware of their body and how is can effect its surroundings, I find it hard to believe Utley didn't know he was going to almost certainly injure Tejada by diving shoulder first (therefore putting all of his weight into it) into the back of his legs running 15-20 mph.  I don't think for a second he thought it would be this bad, but no way a guy as experienced as Utley didn't know what he was doing was especially risky even for a hard "slide".

[IEAngelsfan]

Dudu, you need to lay off. I post my true feelings if that offends you then so be it.

I know you are, but what am I?

[19HALO71]

I'm all for old school baseball. Middle infielders just need to start throwing at the heads of incoming runners. If the runner doesnt get down, then they will be tattooed with "Rawlings" on their forehead.

 

Go Halos!!!

Edited October 12, 2015 by 19HALO71

[HaloCory22]

I have no problem with the slide. Tejada was in a very awkward position. It happens. Not the cleanest of slides but I've seen worse.

[mtangelsfan]

I know this is a baseball board but why is there so much outrage over something we should not give a shit about?

 

You've spent time on the spin forum, right?

[floplag]

rule is the problem, not the play.  we see that happen all the time, literally, once or twice a week at least... yet noone cares till its the playoffs with national media attention and the game gets egg on its face.
Utley shouldn't be suspended, heck the same thin g has been done to him... it sucks a player got injured but you cant punish the guy for this with a straight face and potentially affect the playoffs.  
Fix the rule in the off season, stop the nonsense, and lets move on. 

[seenoevil]

Here's my opinion of Utley. **** him!

[Adam]

Got his team a win. 

[mtangelsfan]

Sorry man, I don't see winning as more important that the health of the players.

 

It was a bad slide, he went high, late and off the bag.  He may not have intended to break the guy's leg, but he certainly didn't give a rat's ass if he did.

[HaloCory22]

Grit. Utley has it.

[Blarg]

So what happens if Utley appeals?  This is going to get interesting.  

 

Two pages and nobody picked this up and responded?

Here is the latest, Utley's agent has filed an appeal (figures, he gets a cut of playoff money) and if MLB does not respond to the appeal and make a response Utley is eligible to play.

 

If MLB wants to be idiots and look stupider than the NFL they don't immediately listen to the appeal and deny it under the best interest of the sport regardless of the appeal merit.

 

This is the Buster Posey argument, you can't leave it to players to police themselves when it comes to un sportsman like conduct. There must be guidelines where there is a reasonable protection for all players. The current rules are not specific enough but that still can be applied to this situation with the caveat that the commissioner is of the opinion that the recent spiking of Giavotella and other incidents point to a rise of on field violence that is not acceptable and Utley will be the precedence for the drafting of the new rule change.

 

Utley should not see the playing field. He really shouldn't be allowed to suit up. He should be suspended.

[floplag]

i don't think anyone is saying this is legit, only that it also isn't illegal and happens all the time.  anyone that watches more than 1 baseball game a year knows that this is very commonplace.
The guy wasn't called out, wasn't ejected, and was in fact awarded second base.  THAT is the problem.  How can MLB or any sport fine/suspend a man for a play that wasn't even deemed illegal within the context of the game?
Just because this occurrence happened under the spotlight doesn't make it more or less relevant than the others and is just another example of MLB only acting when its forced to do so.  

[Blarg]

i don't think anyone is saying this is legit, only that it also isn't illegal and happens all the time.  anyone that watches more than 1 baseball game a year knows that this is very commonplace.

The guy wasn't called out, wasn't ejected, and was in fact awarded second base.  THAT is the problem.  How can MLB or any sport fine/suspend a man for a play that wasn't even deemed illegal within the context of the game?

Just because this occurrence happened under the spotlight doesn't make it more or less relevant than the others and is just another example of MLB only acting when its forced to do so.  

 

NFL players are suspended or fined all the time after the game when they apply a late hit or chop block or a variety of penalties where they may or may not have drawn a flag or kicked off the field. Just because the umpire crew did not grasp the severity of the incident doesn't mean the commissioner needs to sit on his hands.

[floplag]

Two pages and nobody picked this up and responded?

Here is the latest, Utley's agent has filed an appeal (figures, he gets a cut of playoff money) and if MLB does not respond to the appeal and make a response Utley is eligible to play.

 

If MLB wants to be idiots and look stupider than the NFL they don't immediately listen to the appeal and deny it under the best interest of the sport regardless of the appeal merit.

 

This is the Buster Posey argument, you can't leave it to players to police themselves when it comes to un sportsman like conduct. There must be guidelines where there is a reasonable protection for all players. The current rules are not specific enough but that still can be applied to this situation with the caveat that the commissioner is of the opinion that the recent spiking of Giavotella and other incidents point to a rise of on field violence that is not acceptable and Utley will be the precedence for the drafting of the new rule change.

 

Utley should not see the playing field. He really shouldn't be allowed to suit up. He should be suspended.

On what grounds?  Being a jerk?  Nothing in the rule book against that.   It was a crappy thing to do, im not defending it in any way, but the reality is that it also isnt illegal and happens every other day in the league.    

The rule needs to be fixed, on that i agree, but not with him being suspended. Come on man pics posted in the forums tell us better than this, there is even one of Aybar doing the same and the same thing being done TOO Utley. 

Yes it sucks the guy got hurt but just cause someone gets hurt doesn't change the facts.   

[floplag]

NFL players are suspended or fined all the time after the game when they apply a late hit or chop block or a variety of penalties where they may or may not have drawn a flag or kicked off the field. Just because the umpire crew did not grasp the severity of the incident doesn't mean the commissioner needs to sit on his hands.

 

And those case are far more egregious and not as commonplace as this is.  You really want to go down this road you'd see suspensions every other day.  

MLB needs to use this to fix the rule, but suspending him for this is the equivalent of changing the speed limit and sending retroactive pre-dated tickets. 

[Blarg]

On what grounds?  Being a jerk?  Nothing in the rule book against that.   It was a crappy thing to do, im not defending it in any way, but the reality is that it also isnt illegal and happens every other day in the league.    

The rule needs to be fixed, on that i agree, but not with him being suspended. Come on man pics posted in the forums tell us better than this, there is even one of Aybar doing the same and the same thing being done TOO Utley. 

Yes it sucks the guy got hurt but just cause someone gets hurt doesn't change the facts.   

 

It is not about anything you are arguing. The basic rules in baseball are about sportsmanship above all else. It is why you can't throw an elbow at the first baseman as you run by to knock him down and dislodge the ball. It is not what reasonable people do on a field of play.

 

What Utley did is not a reasonable action on the field of play. He didn't attempt a slide to the base but targeted the second baseman with a tackle and what makes it a true lack of sportsmanship dating back to the old West, you don't shoot someone in the back. It was a vicious attack on a player, not a slide to break up a double play, there was no slide, just a low chop block.

 

So it is well within the commissioners office to call enough is enough, these idiots need an example being made since they can't seem to police themselves and on a national stage he is not going to want to see Utley get his brains scrambled with a retaliatory fastball. So, for the best interest of the game, Utley gets suspended, the hammer comes down and both teams are defused for any retaliation. The game goes on and all the Dodgers lose is a pinch hitter/utility player.

 

Fair for both sides and it opens the door to make a rule change that the ****ing idiots of the players association can't refuse because it favors the longevity of players careers.

 

This is a good ruling and should have been imposed a long time ago.

[Blarg]

And those case are far more egregious and not as commonplace as this is.  You really want to go down this road you'd see suspensions every other day.  

MLB needs to use this to fix the rule, but suspending him for this is the equivalent of changing the speed limit and sending retroactive pre-dated tickets. 

 

Utley broke his leg. That is egregious and not common place. The rest of your argument is just silly.