February 10th, 2016 at 6:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka When Giants catcher Buster Posey had his left ankle broken in a violent collision at home plate with Marlin’s outfielder Scott Cousins, it was clearly Posey’s fault for putting himself in a bad fielding position. Yet judging by the reactions of Giants fans and Giants manager Bruce Bochy – a former catcher himself – you’d have thought that Cousins had shot the Pope.
“I understand that guys run into catchers,” said Bochy. “I do think we need to consider changing the rules here a little bit because catchers are so vulnerable. … So I’d like to see something considered where we can protect these guys a little bit more. They just don’t have that protection to take a guy coming in full speed with that kind of force.”
When you’re baseball’s poster child and you get hurt – even if it’s your own fault – you can pretty much expect a rule change, which is exactly what happened when MLB enacted rule 7.13 – a rule that will forever be known as “The Posey Rule.”
But what about when a serious injury occurs because a base runner takes out an opposing shortstop or second baseman with an aggressive but legal slide while attempting to breakup a double play – something that has been a part of the game for 147 years?
Well brace yourselves baseball fans, “The Utley Rule” will be coming to a baseball stadium near you soon – perhaps even this season.
The pending rule change is the result of Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley’s hard takeout slide of Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada during Game 2 of the 2015 NLDS which left Tejada with a fractured right fibula. But while most baseball fans agree that Utley’s slide was both hard and late, they also agree that it was within the existing rules (well… except maybe Mets fans).
Although Utley’s slide was indeed late, it was within the existing rules. Utley was subsequently suspended for two games and has appealed the suspension, which has still not been heard.
(Video capture courtesy of TBS – Click on image to view video)
But is a rule change on takeout slides really necessary? Although the answer to this is certainly subject to argument and opinion, the general consensus – at least among baseball fans – is yes.
What about Chase Utley? What is his opinion on what will undoubtedly be a rule change that will forever bear his name?
“Whatever the rules are I think we all should abide by them and go from there,” Utley said. “If they decide to make a change, then they make a change. I think we’ll all play accordingly.”
Utley was given a two-game suspension by MLB for his takeout slide, a suspension which he is appealing and with good cause – not because it was or wasn’t dirty or even late, but because it was no more egregious than the takeout slide by Cubs outfielder Chris Coghlan that left Pirates shortstop Jung Ho Kang with a fractured left tibia and torn lateral meniscus that required emergency surgery to repair.
No one will argue that Utley’s takeout slide was hard or late, but it certainly was no worse than Coghlan’s takeout slide of Jung Ho Kang, for which Coghlan received no suspension.
(Video capture courtesy of Root Sports – Click on image to view video)
To add insult to injury (no pun intended), MLB has delayed Utley’s appeal for what has now been four months. When will it happen?
“I was told about two months ago that at some point in spring training,” said Utley. “I haven’t heard [anything] after that.”
Realistically, even if Utley’s suspension is upheld, it probably won’t cause the Dodgers any undue problems other than taking away a potential late-innings pinch-hitter. After re-signing the 37-year-old / 13-year MLB veteran to a one-year / $7 million contract this off-season, the Dodgers also recently re-signed 32-year-old veteran second baseman Howie Kendrick to a two-year / $20 million contract. Additionally, the Dodgers have 24-year-old fan-favorite Kiké Hernandez available to play second base and perhaps even 25-year-old Micah Johnson, should he make the team out of spring training.
But losing Utley for two games is not the point. The point is, how can MLB justify suspending Utley when they did not suspend Coghlan? By every appearance, Utley was suspended by MLB Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre in an attempt to appease angry and potentially violent Mets fans and to prevent the likelihood of retaliation by Mets players – something that was openly suggested might happen by several Mets players when the best of five series moved to Citi Field for games three and four. Although Torre’s decision succeeded in preventing escalation by Mets players, it also led to continuous chants of “We Want Ut-Ley” which, at times, actually drowned out the television broadcast.
“It was so loud I couldn’t even hear myself think,” said lifelong Dodger fan Will Isabella, who lives in New York and attended Game-3. “It got even worse after the Dodgers blew their 3-0 lead in the second inning.”
Although MLB has given no indication as to when they might enact a new or revised takeout slide rule, many within the industry believe that it could happen by Opening Day. And regardless of whether you are in favor or opposed to a rule change, it is impossible to argue that it will at least reduce the number of serious leg injuries which, of course, is the entire purpose.
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As far as I’m concerned, I’m in favor of a rules change. Although Utley’s slide was legal, it sure caused a lot of hurt, not only to Tejada but to the ’15 NLDS. I can never explain how terrible I felt after it happened even though it was not against the rule as it stood.
Many of you view the 2 slides through blue tinted glasses. Heck the pics alone show the facts. Utley never started sliding until he was beyond the bag. That alone is against the rules. Enough said.
Not really enough said.
The rule as it stands is a judgement call by the umpires. The long-standing accepted guideline has been that if you can reach the bag while sliding, it is (or at least it was) considered a legal takeout slide.
Here is the actual MLB rule as it stands right now:
I think 7:09 d & f cover it.
d: If after having been declared out any runner hinders/impedes with a defenders attempt to make a play on another runner, the runner who was prevented from being put out is declared out.
f: a batter/baserunner willfully and deliberately interferes with a ball or a fielder with obvious intent to break up a double play
No runs may score on these plays
I think I have that right. In ASA there used to be in addendum that allowed the runner closest to home to declared out. It’s been 20 years since I last umped. These rules may have changed.
Of course it is a judgement call as every ball and strike is as well but the facts are that Utley did not touch the base, did not slide prior to reaching the base, hence, exhibit A (which is the pic above) and interfered with the fielder keeping him from finishing the play. Yes, it should have been ruled a DP and that probably would have led to the Dodgers demise sooner.
The irony is that ‘Utley’s play’ had no bearing on the outcome as Tejada was not going to turn that double play. It’s a bunch of ballyhoo over a dirty play/player that should have been ruled a DP and would have been a ‘knucklehead’ move.
Well, it’s my opinion that the beginning of the slide is when a runner commits to it, not when he hits the ground. Utley was close, and clearly he was going out of his way to get to Tejada, but his hand goes over the bag. . Borderline in my judgment. The umps could convene and make a correction if they felt it was justified. They didn’t.
Commits? So when he is half way to the base and he is telling himself to slide hard into the fielder….that’s when he committed to sliding?
Sliding is when a runner’s feet/legs/hands/arms or butt first hit the ground. That’s when the slide begins not when someone decides to dive into a fielder 3 feet behind the bag and acts like the slide was legal.
So the next time Utley goes into second base on a force play do you have an issue with the fielder touching the base and ‘in an attempt’ to turn the double play ‘accidently’ throws the ball between his eyes?
Yes, commits. Unless you’re Yasiel Puig, you begin your slide before you hit the ground. (One long day in the sliding pits with him would change that awkward crash landing of his.) And I do agree that Utley’s slide was out of the baseline with intent to interfere with a defenders attempt to make a play on another runner. Rule 7:09 (e) could have been enforced. Interference, dead ball, batter-runner is out, no run scores. It wasn’t called because of the well known, clearly accepted unwritten rule. And THAT is what needs to be addressed. We are in agreement here chili.
The baseline is a direct line that runs from base to base. The baseline is not 3′ wide. The way I look at it is simple, if you have been declared out, get down or get out of the way. If it’s a close play at second, slide in the baseline, which is AT THE BAG. If you slide out of the baseline and it interferes with the fielders attempt to throw, the existing rule to cover such an act will be enforced. MLB does not need to make up a special “Utley rule” for this. They need to get the umps to enforce the rules as written.
The only reason this has become a big issue is that it happened on a big stage. That said, I think the rule as it exists is wrong.
My bigger concern is that they say they’re going to fix it, but haven’t done anything. A new rule, it made, needs to be in effect for ST, not suddenly change the way the game is played on opening day.
Here’s my thought on how the rule should be written, specifically in regard to force plays: The runner must go directly to the base and make an attempt to touch it. Wow! Is that simple or what? It’s obvious I’m not a lawyer.
It is that simple. The only issue is which gets there first, runner or ball.
Of course, this wouldn’t be baseball if there wasn’t another issue to complicate things. If the ball gets there first it must be in possession of a fielder touching the base. That’s already the rule, just not being enforced. So, enforce it (i.e. no neighborhood play).
The whole thing is that simple and should have been done already.
Rule 7.13 is fine for tag plays, but doesn’t really address force plays.
Rules Committee: You still have two weeks to get this rule in place. Do it!
I like the simplicity of your new rule RTR. However, I believe that if you are going to impose such a rule, you have to eliminate the “neighborhood play” as well – especially with the use of video review.
In no way am I suggesting that Utley’s slide was clean. Again, the point here is that how can MLB suspend Utley when they did not suspend Coghlan?
I get the big stage thing, but it was so blatantly obvious that Torre suspended Utley simply to placate angry Mets fans. That being said, after four months enough water has gone under the bridge to overturn the suspension and move on.
…with a new sliding rule in place, of course. ; )
Maybe I wasn’t quite clear, but I did cover the neighborhood play:
“If the ball gets there first it must be in possession of a fielder touching the base. That’s already the rule, just not being enforced. So, enforce it (i.e. no neighborhood play).”
There are already rules that cover it. Most begin with “if in the opinion of an umpire”. It’s just been accepted over the years that runners may take out fielders at second. This particular play was made worse by the strange and awkward position of the shortstop. He had his back to the runner and that is something you just never see. An argument could be made that 7:09 e and f don’t apply because there is no way he would be making a play on the runner going to first with his back to the first base bag. Very strange play.
Also a very valid point, Badger. It is obvious that today’s umpire are feeling more and more emasculated because of the increased use of video review. That said, when you’ve got incompetent umpires like Angel Hernandez, C.B. Buckner, Balkin’ Bob Davidson, Country Joe West, Laz Diaz (among a few others) who receive no disciplinary action for their blunders, it is understandable why MLB is trying to remove some judgement calls from the game.
When I umped we made it clear to “get down or get out of the way “. Do neither and interference will be called. Utley got down. He just got down a bit late on a guy who somehow was very much out of position to clear the slider, or make a subsequent play. Utley did what is taught all runners from an early stage of training – slide within reach of the bag and take the guy out. I’m sure he was as surprised as anyone Tejada had his back turned and didn’t jump to clear.
And yes, today’s umpires are being exposed. What pisses me off more than anything is they don’t seem to care. Many are lazy, don’t work to “get the 90” and are so often out of position. Mistakes are made by everyone, but to not work the mechanics properly at that level is inexcusable.
Agree with the premise of what you say except he got down way late (like not until he hit Tejada before touching the ground) and never made an attempt to touch the base. It’s a simple fix….runner slides before crossing the plane of the base or gets out of the way NEVER making contact with or impeding the fielder from finishing the play. If neither happens, automatic double play.
I think yours is a wise interpretation of the rule how it is written chili. Taking the player out and the neighborhood play should both be viewed through the lens of the rulebook. It’s there. Just make the announcement the rules, as written, will be enforced. Start enforcing during Spring Training. There will be close plays at the bag, and as the man who trained me so eloquently put it – “close calls go to the umpire”, as some rules are based on judgment. There is also how the review process should play into this. Player safety should be paramount, and this is an opportunity for the league to fix this. If it’s me, and it isn’t, I don’t suspend Utley as he was doing what they all do, but I announce the rules as written will henceforth be applied.
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Let me boil it down to very simple terms. In my opinion if the fielder doesn’t have to touch the base while in possession of the ball to start a double play, then the runner shouldn’t have to touch it as well to break it up. Make the rule specific and enforce it consistently.
I suspect that both of these will be key points in the new Utley Rule – especially with the scrutiny in today’s game because of video review.
I also wouldn’t be surprised if the new rule doesn’t also include something about the runner staying on the bag while the fielder holds the tag – which was one of the most often challenged plays last season.
The rules about all these issues already ARE specific. Enforce as written. There is no need for an Utley Rule.