Chase Utley (26) was suspended two games for this slide in Game 2 of the NLDS on Saturday. Utley is appealing the suspension. (Keith Birmingham/ Staff photographer)
“I’m still waiting to hear, just like you guys,” Utley said Thursday at the Dodgers’ Camelback Ranch facility.
While he waits, Major League Baseball and the MLB Players’ Association didn’t hesitate to change the rules of the game to prevent slides like the one Utley used to take out Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada in last year’s playoffs.
Under new Rule 6.01(j), announced Thursday, “slides on potential double plays will require runners to make “a bona fide attempt to reach and remain on the base. Runners may still initiate contact with the fielder as a consequence of an otherwise permissible slide. A runner will be specifically prohibited from changing his pathway to the base or utilizing a ‘roll block’ for the purpose of initiating contact with the fielder. Potential violations of Rule 6.01(j) will be reviewable using instant replay.”
Also reviewable will be “neighborhood play” calls, which previously were exempted from replay review.
The new rule defines a “bona fide slide” as one in which the runner (1) begins his slide (i.e., makes contact with the ground) before reaching the base; (2) is able and attempts to reach the base with his hand or foot; (3) is able and attempts to remain on the base (except home plate) after completion of the slide; and (4) slides within reach of the base without changing his pathway for the purpose of initiating contact with a fielder.
Here’s a video of Utley’s slide:
Of the four conditions needed to make this a bona fide slide, maybe the only one Utley doesn’t meet is (3). Asked about the rule, Utley said “the rule is probably a little bit more clear and specific on what is allowed and what is not allowed. The whole idea is to definitely keep guys healthy. That’s for sure.”
Utley expects there will be an adjustment period for him, both as a second baseman and as an aggressive baserunner.
“It (the old rule) is all I’ve know for a while, so I imagine there will be a little bit of an adjustment for the middle infielders, but also the baserunners,” he said. “Probably the umpires as well. Everybody will try to get on the same page, like with the home-pate rule and the batter’s box rule. It kind of took time to get comfortable with that. But eventually we’ll get there. We’ll have a chance in spring training to work on it. Then, it should be better.”
Joe Torre, the league’s Chief Baseball Officer, spoke of changing the rules to prevent slides like Utley in the wake of Tejada’s injury last October. But Utley doesn’t believe this rule change is a direct result of his slide.
“From my understanding, we’ve been trying to work on this for a few years now,” he said. “We’ve been trying to get on the same page for a while. Now, obviously, we are. So, I don’t think one instance determined everything.”
