Utley?

[Hawkbiz]

So, Utley has a rough slide/collision in the World Series with the Mets 2nd baseman and
today gets a 2-game suspension. The debate continues.
But, what I do not understand is how he was awarded second base (coming back out of
the dugout after the play was reviewed) even though he never touched the base.
I know the replay showed the 2nd base did not quite touch the base but Utley never even
tried to touch the base, but instead rolled/ran into the infielder
What is the rule on this that allows the runner to be safe?
thanks

 

[iowalaker]

Let me break this down for you best I can. I'm not privy to every replay rule, but here it goes.

Utley slides towards second base, and appears to miss the bag. Umpire calls him out. Tejada never stepped on second, or tagged utley. Utley goes to dugout. They review the play. No out was recorded from the force or tag. Since the throw pulled him off, the play becomes reviewable, and not a neighborhood play. Since the actions of the umpire, calling him out, sent him back to the dugout, they can fix it.

At the end of the day, you don't "need" to touch any bases as a runner (but you're liable to be out on appeal). You do need to touch the base to get the force out though.

 

[unIowa]

The issue as I see it is Utley (in relative terms) was no where near 2nt base, he never even attempted to touch 2nd but rather maliciously went for the 2nd basemens legs in attempt to impede the fielders actions. The ump blew the call and it should have resulted in a called double play as the second baseman cleared himself of the base and Utley chased after him w his slide (his slide past And to the right of the base).

The two game suspension is warranted as that wasn't your intended "break up a double play" slide, he went after the mets fielder with total disregard for where he was at in relation to the bag.