Deja Vu all over again
Last night's playoff game between the Mets and the Dodgers saw a crucial and controversial play involving Chase Utley(Dodgers) and Reuben Tejada(Mets) It was the bottom of the 7th and the Dodgers trailed by a run with runners on first and third and one out. Howie Kendrick hit a liner toward second which was grabbed by Daniel Murphy near second base. Murphy flipped the ball towards Reuben Tejada who approached second base for the toss with his back angled away from the runner Utley. Utley slid very late toward the bag and up-ended Tejada with a legal but brutal take out slide that led to Tejada's departure on a cart. It was later determined he sustained a broken fibula. Utley was called out but a challenge resulted in a reversal. That controversial call, since Utley failed to touch second base, opened the floodgates to several Dodger runs and a change of the lead.
The irony is that in 2010 Utley and Tejada were involved in a similar play when Utley was a member of the Phillies. In a game of little importance to the Mets as opposed to the division leading Phillies, Utley slid late and hard into Rueben Tejada and knocking down the Mets' shortstop. In that game, Mets' pitcher Mike Pelfrey and third baseman David Wright openly jawed at Utley for the late take-out slide. They later criticized the slide via the press. Pelfrey even made gestures to his head, mimicking a bean ball towards Utley.
Now Utley has taken out the starting Mets' shortstop in a critical championship series. Many ball players have already accused Utley of a dirty slide again; yet the umpiring crew did not call Utley out on an interference call. This begs the question of whether the Mets will seek retribution against Utley if they get an opportunity or even against an innocent Dodger. This question formed the basis for the theme of my novel A Pitch For Justice. It follows a similar type incident which led to a deadly ending. You can find it on Amazon.
The irony is that in 2010 Utley and Tejada were involved in a similar play when Utley was a member of the Phillies. In a game of little importance to the Mets as opposed to the division leading Phillies, Utley slid late and hard into Rueben Tejada and knocking down the Mets' shortstop. In that game, Mets' pitcher Mike Pelfrey and third baseman David Wright openly jawed at Utley for the late take-out slide. They later criticized the slide via the press. Pelfrey even made gestures to his head, mimicking a bean ball towards Utley.
Now Utley has taken out the starting Mets' shortstop in a critical championship series. Many ball players have already accused Utley of a dirty slide again; yet the umpiring crew did not call Utley out on an interference call. This begs the question of whether the Mets will seek retribution against Utley if they get an opportunity or even against an innocent Dodger. This question formed the basis for the theme of my novel A Pitch For Justice. It follows a similar type incident which led to a deadly ending. You can find it on Amazon.
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