Middle infielders are taught to avoid the baserunner. But Tejada turns his back and stands there, and you're surprised that he got hit?

I find it less than humorous that people posting here would suggest that an appropriate remedy is to have the pitcher throw at Bautista ("that's what Gibson, Drysdale, Martinez, etc, would have done").

You might want to recall Ray Chapman, Tony Conigliaro and countless other batters who have been hit with a beanball and either lost their lives or suffered serious injury as a result. A beanball at 95 mph is truly a classless act. And dangerous.

As I see the replay, he had very little chance to get out of the way after making the force.

I don't think anyone suggested that. They suggested knocking him down by throwing inside, a time-honored baseball practice.

I don't really think Utley's play was "dirty" just the outcome. Everyone tries to break up that play. And this play in particular had more than a few flukey aspects to it. Tejada's turn is bizarre. Utley's head happening to hit him in the leg is bizarre too. I don't think he went in thinking he'd head butt Tejada's leg. I think he went in thinking he'd break up the play, which is what anyone would do.

dirty
 

Chase Utley's slide into Ruben Tejada would have taken him 15 feet past second base.
http://www.amazinavenue.com/2015/10/...ada-jerk-dirty

Tejada had no chance. He MIGHT have been hurt with a hard, true slide, not the late BS that Utley tried. Pivot or not, he was not getting out of the way and was completely vulnerable and defenseless.
http://photos.imageevent.com/imoverh...rge/tejada.jpg

My memory may be foggy as I saw Gibson and Drysdale pitch when I was 10 and Pedro when I was 40, but I saw pitches from them aimed at the head, and behind the batter's back.

From 1996

http://articles.latimes.com/1996-07-...46_1_bean-ball

Gibson basically says he never aimed at the head, but only at the body, where "nobody gets hurt" [which is BS]. Oh, but he did hit "a few guys in the head" when he was trying to brush them back.

A fine, time honored tradition of baseball indeed.

:rolleyes:

more
 

here's an even better depiction of Utley's "slide" into second;
http://photos.imageevent.com/imoverh...ge/tejada2.jpg

Chris

You're right. The game hasn't been the same since the Massachusetts rules fell out of favor, and they banned soaking.

Nostalgia is ever thus.

uhh...
 

Nothing like that display of can and bottle throwing in Toronto could ever happen in Texas (or Yankee Stadium) if the situation was reversed. Texans and Yankee fans are way too classy for that. Toronto fans are beasts, everybody knows that. Yeah.

The Jays players were not classless. When his arms and bat were above his head Encarnacion was very clearly making a "settle down" gesture to the fans, and then he was accosted by the Ranger pitcher who had just thrown the gopher ball to Bautista. Emotions run high in games like these. I don't blame either team.

Does sound like sour grapes to me.

Last time I was in TO having a beer at the game it was served in a plastic cup.

Worst fans are the Dodgers. After Bryan Stow is almost killed after a game with the Giants, now a Mets fan is hospitalized after a mother and a son beat him in the parking lot after Game 1.

Toronto vs Texas
 

Now there's a real intelligent response....

Imho...
 

I have "No Dog" in this Mayhem...

However, I watch'd the whole game!
And when after Russell Martin threw the Ball back to the Pitcher and it hit Choo's Bat, the Home Plate Ump "Waved Off the Play!?!?"

At this point Donaldson, Martin and the rest of the Toronto Players "Stood Down!" The play was Dead! imho...

Doesn't matter what the Rule States... The Umps made a Mistake and it should of Stood, No Run Scored!
In this case, "Stopping Players from Playing" Should be added to the Rule!

What a Mess...

Texas fans and jays haters:

Please just make friends with the voices inside of your head, or the off season will be torture. Here's a few lyrics for you to sing on the really bad days: (This might just be the only reference to Eminem on net54):

'Cause I need an interventionist
To intervene between me and this monster
And save me from myself and all this conflict
'Cause the very thing that I love's killing me and I can't conquer it
My OCD's conking me in the head
Keep knocking, nobody's home, I'm sleepwalking
I'm just relaying what the voice in my head's saying
Don't shoot the messenger, I'm just friends with the
monster that's under my bed
Get along with the voices inside of my head...


Meanwhile Iv'e got an ALCS to get ready for...

Actually it is, and since you like stats here are a few for you:

Yankees Team Pitching Stats (out of 30 teams)

2015 - ranked 17th
2014 - 18th
2013 - 18th
2012 - 12th
2011 - 11th
2010 - 15th
2009 - 12th
2008 - 15th
2007 - 17th

seems middle of the road to me - thus "average"

don't believe it, go check it:

http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/sortable.js...ys=&extended=0

Toronto vs Texas
 

Once again.....who cares about the Yankees mediocre pitching??? No kidding!!! God....get a life.....

You were the genius who said Batista only hit average pitching and didn't hit top pitching.

1. Pretty sure all the players playing today are facing the same pitchers.
2. Don't most hitters hit average pitching better then top pitching?
3. Your an idiot. (for proof see Leon's post)

He was in the basepaths before the "cry baby Buster Posey rule" was enforced same thing applied for catchers.

Utley did what he needed to do. There was no way that DP would probably have been converted. I agree with Sean on this. Utley also never tagged second haha.

Regardless if the play was called correctly or not, there is no reason for fans to resort to throwing beer bottles. There are no excuses, is classless, and undeserving of celebrating going to the Series let alone winning it. " Joey Bats " needs to act like he's hit a home run before. Classless move also, throwing the bat and showing up the opposing pitcher. Bigger and more meaningful homers have been hit before, without drawing attention to themselves like Bats did.

This thread went 100 different directions. Each poster going on a diatribe ignoring the post before it. Reminiscent of the old Facebook political posts. We all take a position and thats the end of it. Totally useless.

proud to be a contributor!!!

If I'm Mattingly I pinch run Utley late in the game.

Guess Im just an 'old fuddy duddy'

with how the game is being played, utley did nothing wrong. obviously he didn't mean to break the guy's leg, but being an infielder tejada should've known to protect himself better. that was a very awkward attempt (and plant foot) to turn an impossible double play. with the game situation tejada should've known better, 100% of baserunners would've come in that hard.

handing out the suspension is a stupid and a reactionary move by MLB....just make another "buster posey" rule then if you want to protect infielders, as is utley doesn't deserve any suspension.

Seems a little early ;)

And, holy crap no it's not my tat lol.

Attachment 208165


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I teach and previously coached professional baseball (as well as having played it at a higher level than you will ever know) and you're calling me an idiot??? Let me tell you something imbecile....what I FORGOT about this game you will NEVER know in three lifetimes.....now go back into your coma.....

Canadian who says... ABBJ (Anyone But Blue Jays)
 

OK, maybe I'm really a bitter Expos fan. As a Canadian, and a Expos fan, I have zero passion for the Blue Jays. But the bandwagon jumping here is enough to make me puke. Where were these people three years ago, or more. Most "fans" couldn't name 5 Blue Jays before 60 days ago.

And yeah, Bautista... he always has too much to say. Remember his rant when Reyes was traded. Ugh.

hell of a resume, surprised the Yankees have not hired you to fix their average pitching with those credentials......now go home and get your shine box!

What is your problem??? Are you just a typical Yankee hater that is so bitter because the organization has 27 championship trophies in their showcase? Oh, and to add one more insult to injury since Yankee haters are always bashing AROD on his steroid use... who did Bautista purchase his PEDs from when he "magically" went from hitting 16 home runs to 54 the following season??? You are pathetic...to say the least!

Fortunately people like you are in the minority in this country. Oh and ABBS (anybody but the Stampeders)!!! ;)

p.s. Jays fan from day #1.

Utley now has the entire off season to practice base running ;). He can start by watching tapes of the Mets' Murphy's heads up brilliant base running last night...although I am sure he got a real good look at it the first time from the dugout. :p

No doubt or arguing that Yankee's pitching has been average, Paul is correct, but stats can be misleading. For one, NL Teams dominate the top of the rankings (due to the AL DH) - but if you look at the AL stats only it still paints a similar picture. However, the Yankees were top 5 in AL pitching for three of four of those years listed.

More importantly, during that span 1 WS Championship, 2 ALCS appearances, and six playoff appearances. Now that is nothing to brag too much about, but I can think of a few teams that would trade "above average" pitching for those results. The Dodgers have arguably the best two pitchers in baseball, and they are still trying to figure out how to get out of the first round of the playoffs.

Last couple paragraphs from an NBC Sports article this morning.


Pressure + Triumph = Exuberance. If you find that equation troublesome or the concept behind it difficult to grok, you have challenges far beyond trying to get major league hitters out. If you think that some Kafkaesque, self-contradictory, thought and emotion-policing set of “game-respecting” rituals take precedence over it, you’re missing the very point of sports, entertainment and, maybe, even the concept of joy itself.

If such a set of beliefs is required for you to Respect The Game, find a different game. The rest of us will be over here marveling at one of the most exciting baseball moments we’ve ever experienced.

I agree with this. My only objection is that people who use the word grok should get beaned with a fastball...