Dodgers infielder Chase Utley has been suspended for Games 3 and 4 of the NLDS after his illegal slide in Game 2
Chase Utley made an exceptionally dirty play during Game 2 of the NLDS as the Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman slid into New York Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada at second base. The result was a broken leg for Tejada and it was such a dirty play that Utley apologized and everyone has started to evaluate rule changes regarding slides into second.
As for the immediate consequences of Utley’s actions, Major League Baseball made their decision on Sunday night. Utley will be suspended for Games 3 and 4 of the series because of an “illegal slide:”
LAD INF Utley has been suspended for Games 3 & 4 of NLDS as a result of his illegal slide in the 7th inning on Sat. pic.twitter.com/ktAjmXWFaR
— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) October 12, 2015
Considering the uproar that Utley’s slide and the subsequent injury to Tejada caused, we all knew that something like this was coming. It’s also worth noting that this suspension can be appealed and there’s a chance it will be reduced.
However, the more curious part of the statement from MLB comes at the end when they made a point to state that they will continue discussions about a rule to protect infielders from that type of play. Saying that in an official press release is basically the unofficial way of a league saying, “it’s coming, but we can’t really say that right now.” If it means fewer dirty plays like this one, though, it’s a rule well worth instituting.