Seth Vigdor
Last night’s game between the Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays ended in controversy. It all started when a Jose Bautista slide at second base resulted in a “Chase Utley Rule” double play. At the time, the bases were loaded when Edwin Encarnacion hit a ground ball to third. Bautista, who was at first base at the time, slid into the second base, and Rays second baseman Logan Forsythe threw wide of first in an attempt for a double play. It appeared two runs had scored. Here’s the play courtesy of MLB.com.
However, after video review, it was ruled that Bautista had violated rule 6.01(j) by committing an illegal slide into second base by deliberately interfering with Forsythe. On top of that, they ruled Encarnacion out as well, ending the game. Needless to say Blue Jays Manager John Gibbons was pissed.
Gibbons tells reporters: "Maybe we'll come out and wear dresses tomorrow. Maybe that's what everybody's looking for."
— Arash Madani (@ArashMadani) April 6, 2016
More Gibbons "that's flat out embarrassing. That cost us a chance to win a major league game." #BlueJays
— Barry Davis (@BarryDavis_) April 6, 2016
Bautista had this to say after the game courtesy of The Star.
“I didn’t think it was illegal to make contact, let alone something so subtle and soft. Did I reach out to make him avoid me? Perhaps. Does that mean it’s an illegal slide? I don’t know. My feet were aiming straight at the bag, I felt like I was within reach, I slid directly to the bag, I didn’t go directly at him.”
I knew that at some point the Utley rule would cause controversy on both sides of the field. I find it comical that it happened on only the third day of the MLB season. I get the vibe that there will be more controversy with this rule as the year progresses.