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SPORTSSaturday 27 February 2016
Baseball bans rolling block slides in wake of Utley play
BY RONALD BLUM a takeout slide by the
Chicago Cubs’ Chris
AP BASEBALL WRITER Coghlan, who was traded
to Oakland on Thursday.
NEW YORK (AP) -- Baseball “Those incidents put more
public attention on the
made its call on the Chase issue and allowed us to
focus on it this offseason,
Utley slide: out. but we had been discussing
this topic for several years,”
Major League Baseball and MLB Senior Vice President
Chris Marinak said. “I think
the players’ union have there were a confluence of
factors that came together
banned rolling blocks to this offseason that led to us
make the change.”
break up potential double Kang favored the change
but wouldn’t say whether
plays, hoping to prevent a he thought Coghlan’s slide
still would be allowed.
repeat of the takeout by “Bad luck in a bad
spot,” he said through a
Utley that broke the leg of translator. “The past is the
past, and I’m on a new
New York Mets shortstop chapter now.”
For players’ association
Ruben Tejada during last head Tony Clark, definition
was key. “It allows middle
year’s playoffs. infielders to appreciate
where they can go and
“From my understanding, where they can be safe,”
he said, “as well as allowing
we’ve been trying to players to appreciate ...
where they need to go to
work on this for a few try and break up the play,”
the former All-Star first
years now,” Utley said at baseman said.
Going forward, takeout
the Los Angeles Dodgers’ slides and neighborhood
plays - where a middle
camp, “so I don’t think infielder fails to touch
second base - will be
one instance determined subject to video review. In
the past, the neighborhood
everything.” play wasn’t covered by
instant replay.
Maybe, but fans may see “A shortstop will drag
his right foot across the
it another way - the Chase back corner of the base.
I don’t think that will ever
Utley Rule. change,” said Colorado
manager Walt Weiss, a
Under the change former All-Star shortstop.q
announced Thursday, a
runner must attempt a
“bona fide slide,” defined
as making contact with
the ground ahead of the
base, being in position to
and trying to reach the
base with a hand or foot, In this Oct. 10, 2015, file photo, New York Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada, goes over the top of Los
Angeles Dodgers’ Chase Utley who broke up a double play during the seventh inning in Game 2
trying to remain on the of baseball’s National League Division Series, in Los Angeles.
base after the slide, and Associated Press
sliding within reach of the
base without changing his
path to initiate contact “I imagine there will be a Tejada have maybe done that situation, I’d probably
little bit of an adjustment be doing the same, trying
with a fielder. for the middle infielders, a couple things to get to break the double play.”
but also the baserunners,” But then he added: “As a
An umpire can call both Utley said. Tejada missed out of the way?,” said fielder, that’s awesome.
the World Series due to the Nobody’s going to get you
the runner and batter out injury sustained at Dodger Philadelphia infielder- if you’re out of the way.”
Stadium in the NL Division In mid-September,
for a violation. Baserunners Series. Utley was suspended outfielder Cody Asche, a Pittsburgh rookie shortstop
for two games, a penalty Jung Ho Kang’s season
may not elevate or kick still under appeal. former Utley teammate. ended when his left leg
“Did Chase catch him was broken and a knee
a leg above the fielder’s good? Yeah. Could Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus ligament was torn during
knee or throw his arm or looked at Utley’s slide and
upper body. the rule change from two
A runner who makes a perspectives.
permissible slide cannot be “I didn’t have any problem
charged with interference, with that, even if it looked
even if he makes contact a little dirty,” he said. “But in
with a fielder.
