There are certain plays in sports that walk the line of aggressive and dirty. None more so this year than Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley’s slide into second base that broke the leg of Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada. Utley was attempting to break up a double play like any player is expected to do, but it appeared Utley may have slid a little far from the bag that made everyone question whether his intent was completely innocent.
Utley, a former member of the Philadelphia Phillies, has a long history with the Mets making the play even more questionable. Earlier in the year, starting pitcher Matt Harvey plunked Utley after two Mets players were hit and both benches had to be warned. Fast forward to game two of the NLDS with Utley playing on a different team. The Mets were up by one run and the Dodgers had a man on first and third with one out. Howie Kendrick hit a textbook double play ball, that should have ended the inning, right at second baseman Daniel Murphy who made a nice toss to Tejada who was standing on second. When Tejada went to throw the ball to first baseman Lucas Duda, Utley slid right into him making him unable to complete the throw.
After further review, Utley nor Tejada never actually touched second base on the play. However, nobody was concerned about it as Tejada was unable to get up while Utley ran off the field with Kendrick safe on first. After reviewing the play it was clear Utley did not start his slide until he was in line with the bag making his intentions even more questionable. The Dodgers went on to take the lead and win the game. However, the Mets got the last laugh winning the series and advancing to the NLCS.
