Playoffs update: A broken leg leads to more debate!

With a runner on 2nd and 1 out and the Dodgers down by 1 run, Chase Utley was inserted as a pinch-hitter and promptly blooped a single to the outfield which sent the runner to 3rd.  Bartolo Colon had replaced Syndergaard and with runners on 3rd and 1st.  Kendrick hits a slow grounder behind 2nd base and Utley took out the shortstop Ruben Tejada and broke his leg. You can see it on the video:

http://m.mlb.com/video/v521590283/nymlad-gm2-dodgers-tie-game-after-hard-utley-slide/?game_pk=446246

After the game, the 1st question to Mets manager Terry Collins was about the play:

https://twitter.com/BBTN/status/653076013094711296

Hard to believe but Utley had taken out Tejada before, and 5 years ago on a Jayson Werth grounder, Chase Utley took out Ruben Tejada!

http://m.mlb.com/video/v12416779/nymphi-utley-slides-hard-into-tejada-at-second/?game_pk=446246

After the game, this was Utley’s response, “I was trying to put a body on the ball to break up a double play. You’re taught from a young age to try to break up double plays”.

David Wright after the play ended was seen with a stare into the Dodgers’ dugout had this to say after the game, “He’s a second baseman. If he wants guys sliding like that into him, then it’s perfectly fine.  He knows how to play the game. If he doesn’t mind guys coming in like that when he’s turning a double play, then we don’t have any problem with it. It’s a legal slide. It’s within the rules. But somebody is going to get hurt.”

How’s about this Tweet from Justin Upton.

If that was a superstar shortstop we would have a Tulo Rule being enforced tomorrow

— Justin Upton (@JUST_JUP) October 11, 2015

Ian Desmond added clarity from his Tweeter on the rules on the play:

https://twitter.com/IDesmond20/status/653056117061369856

Desi correctly pointed out that the play was reviewable because Tejada never threw the ball to 1st base, and Mattingly confirmed in his post-game presser that he was immediately told by the umpire that there was no “neighborhood call” and he could challenge whether Tejada stepped on 2nd base which he clearly did not, and the call was over-turned and Utley was awarded 2nd base.

https://twitter.com/IDesmond20/status/653057255999467520

From last night, a strong reaction from Section222:

Jerry Hairston makes a reference to Chess. Jerry took up for Utley but years ago had a problem with a similar play when it happened to him against the Diamondbacks:

Hey @rickmitch87 HATE see players injured. HAVE to protect yourself around the bag that's rule #1. Chase did his job. This isn't Chess! #MLB

— Jerry Hairston, Jr. (@TheRealJHair) October 11, 2015

This is the talk of baseball on a Sunday morning and will be covered in debate on ESPN’s Sports Reporters; however, feel free to debate it here.