UTLEY RULE SLIDES INTO EFFECT
MLB bans dangerous slides
PORT ST. LUCIE — The Utley Rule — or maybe you would rather call it the Tejada Rule, in honor of the victim? — is in business.
Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association jointly announced the inception of a new rule governing slides on possible double plays that bans the very action that the Dodgers’ Chase Utley took on Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada during last year’s National League Division Series.
Tejada had left Tradition Field on Thursday by the time news of the rule change broke. In an interview with The Post’s Kevin Kernan earlier this month, Tejada said, “I’d like to see the fielder be protected. It can be very dangerous. They have to make a little bit of an adjustment there.’’
In NLDS Game 2 at Dodger Stadium, Utley, attempting to break up a double play, went out of his way to take out Tejada, (right) sliding very late in the process, and proceeded to fracture Tejada’s right fibula, infuriating the Mets and dramatically accelerating the momentum for a fundamental change in the regulation of this play.
Rule 6.01(j), an addition to existing Rule 6.01 on “Interference, Obstructions and Catcher Collisions,” reads, “If a runner does not engage in a bona fide slide, and initiates (or attempts to make) contact with the fielder for the purpose of breaking up a double play, he should be called for interference.”
A bona fide slide, as per the rule, occurs when the base runners 1) begins his slide (makes contact with t he 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.
Furthermore, if a runner tries to execute a roll block or intentionally initiates (or attempts to initiate) contact with the fielder by elevating and kicking his leg above the fielder’s knee, then that would constitute a violation.
A violation would result in both the runner and the batter being called out for a double play. Potential violations of this rule will be subject to review via instant replay.
As an offshoot of this development, the “neighborhood play” at second base, which hadn’t been part of the replay process, also will be subject to replay review. Umpires overturned an initial out call in the Utley-Tejadaa play last year because they determined it wasn’t a neighborhood play, further upsetting the Mets.
Baseball and the union also announced some changes in the initiative to increase the pace of play (and decrease game lengths). There now will be timed 30-second visits to the pitcher’s mound by managers and pitching coaches, and the time between innings will drop to 2:05 for locally televised games and 2:25 for nationally televised games, 20 fewer seconds in each case.