Sliding to Second?

Blue Jays baffled by ruling on controversial slide play

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Clearly the Toronto Blue Jays were going to be frustrated, angry and pissed off at the way baseball’s new slide rule on double plays stripped them of a two-run rally in the ninth inning and hung them an unfathomable 3-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night.

Every corner of the clubhouse buzzed post-game with discussion on why replay officials ruled that Jose Bautista’s actions as he slid into second base while Logan Forsythe tried to turn two “hindered and impeded the fielder,” and “did not engage in a bona fide slide as he did not attempt to remain on the base,” according to the replay ruling supplied to crew chief Mike Everitt.

But as much as there was anger, there was also confusion, serious confusion, over the intent of the rule, its application and what it means for the way the game is to be played. Trying to protect players makes sense, the rule as it was applied Tuesday does not.

“Are we trying to turn the game into a joke?” ranted manager John Gibbons. “I mean, really, that’s flat out embarrassing, that cost us a chance to win a major-league game. Was that the intent? Well that’s the result you’re going to get. I was talking to some guys in spring training, saying, ‘Wait ‘til it happens and ends a game.’ Truly an embarrassment. Baseball’s been a hard-nosed game, (Bautista) gets down in plenty of time, he’s going into a bag, there’s really no explanation for it. Wins matter in this business, and for that to come out like that, I don’t get it.”

[color=rgb(51, 51, 51)]Blame Chase Utley, whose tackle slide that broke Ruben Tejada’s leg in the playoffs served as the catalyst for Rule 6.01(j), which says that runners should be called for interference if he doesn’t make a bona fide slide, which is described as such: [/color]
[color=rgb(51, 51, 51)][/size]— (1) begins his slide (i.e., makes contact with the ground) before reaching the base; [/color]
[color=rgb(51, 51, 51)][/size]— (2) is able and attempts to reach the base with his hand or foot; [/color]
[color=rgb(51, 51, 51)][/size]— (3) is able and attempts to remain on the base (except home plate) after completion of the slide; [/color]
[color=rgb(51, 51, 51)][/size]— (4) slides within reach of the base without changing his pathway for the purpose of initiating contact with a fielder. [/color]
[color=rgb(51, 51, 51)][/size][/color]
[color=rgb(51, 51, 51)][/size]Bautista’s slide into second on Edwin Encarnacion’s chopper to third clearly qualifies as bona fide under criteria one, two and four, while under three, he finishes off the bag as his momentum carries him through. [/color]
[color=rgb(51, 51, 51)][/size]When told part of the ruling included his not making an attempt to remain on the base, Bautista replied: “I was already out, why is there a need for me to stay on the bag? Common sense has to come into this at some point.” [/color]

i dont know about you guys but i thought Bautista was wrong when he held out his hand to try and mess up the throw to first base...

[color=rgb(51, 51, 51)]“I guess we’ll come out wearing dresses tomorrow,” the manager told reporters, [/color][color=rgb(18, 109, 145)] as reported by The Globe and Mail [/color][color=rgb(51, 51, 51)][/size]. “Maybe that’s what everybody’s looking for. … That cost us a chance to win a major league game. You’re going to end a game like that?” [/color]

We also have that in Cricket : Bowlers blocking Batters

its not good sportsmanship.

dont you think he was trying to deliberatly throw the play though?

Yankees was cheated they not all over the web


it's the way the game is played


suck it up


is only the 1st game