As we talked about yesterday, the MLB and MLBPA are reportedly progressing toward a sliding rule change at second base following Chase Utley's takeout slide on Ruben Tejada during Game 2 of the NLDS between the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers.
It's yet another pressing issue that has been at the forefront of this MLB offseason, in addition to the qualifying offer system and the new collective bargaining agreement. Commissioner Rob Manfred is seemingly always dealing with a hot button issue just about every week, and this is yet another one because many MLB players feel any rule changes to takeout slides could compromise the identity of the sport.
That's certainly a valid concern, but if the two sides can come to a reasonable consensus on the issue, then there shouldn't be anything to worry about. In fact, wouldn't the game be better if there were fewer injuries from unnecessary takeout slides?
We saw two season-ending injuries from such incidents in 2015. Tejada broke his leg in that NLDS Game 2 while Pittsburgh Pirate shortstop Jung Ho Kang tore his ACL in September when Chicago Cubs outfielder Chris Coghlan attempted to break up a double play. Some say Coghlan's slide was a clean takeout slide, but others would disagree.
"Players are taught to stack their legs as they slide to try to minimize the chances of an injury to the runner or fielder," writes Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review . "One person in the Pirates' clubhouse, who did not want to be identified, said Coghlan separated his legs 'like a hockey kick (save)' and whipped his leg into Kang.
"'(Coghlan) went after him,' the source said. 'It wasn't a dirty play but ... there's an adjective for it, somewhere between aggressive and dirty. There was hard intent there.'"
So how can this issue be solved without softening the game and angering the players? With reason, that's how. There's never going to be a clear-cut set of definitive rules to make the right call. It will almost always be a subjective call from the umpires, but I'm confident someone who is that close to the play can understand what is dangerous and practice, and what is not.
This is what the current rule reads for takeout slides:
"If, in the judgment of the umpire, a batter-runner willfully and deliberately interferes with a batted ball or a fielder in the act of fielding a batted ball, with the obvious intent to break up a double play, the ball is dead; the umpire shall call the batter-runner out for interference and shall also call out the runner who had advanced closest to the home plate regardless where the double play might have been possible. In no event shall bases be run because of such interference."
That is much too vague and the subjectivity can very to extreme degrees when making such a ruling on a legal or illegal slide.
Here are three ways that can improve the current second base sliding rule:
Specify, like in the NCAA baseball rules, that runners must slide "in a direct line between the two bases"
There will obviously be exceptions to this potential amendment, as baserunners frequently try to slide around tags and at times circle the base in an attempt to get their arm in under the tag. But in the case of double plays, it will be clear when a player in violating this rule and targeting the fielder.
In regards to the potential rule change, ESPN's Buster Olney reported yesterday, "If the middle infielder is clearly on the left-field side of second base, sources say, the runners will not be able to go over the bag to hit the fielder; if the fielder is out of the baseline, as Tejada was when he was hit by Utley, the baserunner won't be allowed to hit the fielder."
If you can't run outside of the baseline, why can you slide outside of it, especially as Coghlan did when he hit Kang?
Unless the fielder is in the basepath, ban the runner from thrusting his legs or arms in either direction to disrupt the motion of the fielder
This could be a sub-category of the previous rule because players can still slide in a direct line yet use their legs or arms to put the fielder in danger - like sliding at an angle where the arms/legs are in opposite directions.
Olney reported yesterday that the rule change will "outlaw slides in which the baserunners go beyond the effort to get to second base and instead target the fielders."
This pertains exactly to that.
In Coghlan's case, he appeared to have used his legs to hit Kang, who was outside of the direct line of the basepath, while Coghlan's upper body remained (somewhat) straight on with the base.
Ban players from sliding within five feet from the bag (or some other distance that makes sense)
This could cause a bit of an uproar, but blame Utley. The guy ruined it for everyone. There is literally no argument to be had about the legitimacy of his slide. It was unnecessary and completely intended to hit Tejada and he slid almost after he arrived at the bag.
If you're sliding at or beyond the bag, you're clearly not making an attempt to be safe.
The MLB simply cannot have players sliding at or beyond the bag. It's dangerous for the fielder and the runner. The baserunner can hurt his foot/ankle/hand/wrist sliding that late and, as we saw with Utley, they're also in danger of sustaining concussions if they hit the fielder or even hit the ground awkwardly (Utley was given a concussion test and passed it).
Establishing these rules will make it clear that the first and foremost duty of the runner is to attempt to be safe at second base, not to precariously thrust one's body at the fielder in order to break up a double play. I'm not for banning takeout slides altogether, I think they're an important part of the game, but by making the rules more transparent, both baserunners and umpires will be well aware what falls within the parameters of practicality and perilousness.
