Chase Utley has paid the price for the play that broke Ruben Tejada’s leg on Saturday night, with MLB handing the Los Angeles Dodgers player a two-game suspension.
Utley slid into the Mets shortstop during game two of the teams’ series on Saturday night as he attempted to break up a double play. It turned out to be a canny decision: Utley was ruled safe after an appeal and the Dodgers overhauled a shellshocked Mets to level the series at 1-1.
“I recognize that there has been much commentary and many questions regarding the unfortunate play in last night’s game in which Ruben Tejada was injured,” said Joe Torre, MLB’s chief officer. “As I said after the game, the determination of whether a baserunner 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 illegal slide and a legitimate hard play is an extremely difficult call for our umpires.”
“However, 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 play angered many with even New York’s mayor, Bill de Blasio, getting involved.
There is no debate. That was a tackle, not a slide. @Mets fans right to be fuming, as I am. @MLB: Enforce the rules or write a new one. #LGM
— Bill de Blasio (@BilldeBlasio) October 11, 2015
Utley says he will appeal, which means he will be able to play until the matter is resolved. The league wants to make a final decision before game three of the Mets-Dodgers series on Monday night.
Utley-Tejada collision. That is brutal. pic.twitter.com/5qQcPEcVBt
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) October 11, 2015
The player’s agent, Joel Wolfe, made his feelings on the suspension clear. “A two-game suspension for a legal baseball play is outrageous and completely unacceptable. Chase did what all players are taught to do in this situation — break up the double play,” Wolfe said in a statement.
“We routinely see plays at second base similar to this one that have not resulted in suspensions. Chase feels terrible about Ruben Tejada’s injury and everyone who knows him knows that he would never intentionally hurt anybody. We will be appealing this suspension immediately.”
The Mets, perhaps unsurprisingly, backed Torre’s decision. “With this decision behind us, the team and our fans can now focus on playing winning baseball,” the club said.
