Let's Talk: The Reformation of Baseball . . . Because of one Play

By Chad Williams, a guest writer to C&C. Native of West Virginia, Sport Management major at Liberty University, former high school and collegiate baseball player. 

      

In Game 2 of the American League Division Series (ALDS) between the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers, Chase Utley made a hard slide into Ruben Tejada to break up a double play. As a result of the play, Tejada’s leg was broken and Utley was suspended for two games.

We, as baseball fans and students of the game, did not know it yet, but we were witnessing the game of baseball change before our very eyes.

Utley’s dirty slide, and yes it was a dirty play, grabbed the attention of Major League Baseball (MLB). The MLB found what they thought was a solution to breaking up double plays. In February of 2016, the “Utley Rule” formally known as Rule 6.01(j)(7.14) in the Official MLB Handbook, came into existence.

Sean M. Haffey/Getty Image

The “Utley Rule” basically eliminates a runner coming into contact with a middle infielder. Contact can be made as long as the runner slides before he gets to the bag, is going for the bag, is arm length away from bag and makes an attempt to stop on the bag.

First off, the “Utley Rule” should not be in the game of baseball.

It was a knee jerk reaction to one dirty play out of hundreds and thousands clean slides. It is unfortunate what happened to Tenaha and the MLB should take action in protecting its players, but this is not the way to do it.

Second, the “Utley Rule” is very ambiguous.

Sometimes it is very tough to determine whether the runner attempted to stop on the bag or not. Here is another thought, just because a runner slides through a bag does not mean it is a dirty play. A runner should be allowed to slide through the bag.

Sliding in hard into a bag is not dirty. It has been part of the game for a very long time. Where it becomes wrong is where there is malicious intent, such as the Utley slide.

Lastly, the “Utley Rule” has cost teams games and there have been unhappy middle infielders when they get targeted at second base and the umpires did not see it.

Let's Talk: When the Snow Storm Hits

                                 

We are now a week out from our lovely visitor Winter Storm Jonas. He was kind enough to drop all winter's snow on us all at once. Everyone has had a different experience and stories of their own relating to Jonas. 

For me, I was snowed in Friday to Monday, like many of you. I watched people slip and slide down the road, slide into ditches and burn the rubber on their tires on the hill, which seemed to turn into a mountain, to get in or out. 

But, situations, like Winter Storm Jonas, seem to always teach a lesson and have stories to come out of them that have an impact on how we respond to the next situation like it. 

Winter Storms of the Past 

At the beginning of this storm, several different people were telling me stories of snow storms past. The more notable storms were that of '78 and '93. I heard that the storm of '78 compared more to this one than the one of '93. In the storm of '78, I was told that it took residents at least a week to dig out. In both storms, power outages occurred. 

The notable storms, that I can remember, were Super Storm Sandy and the perpetual snow systems last year. Neither one, however, compare to what I have seen this year. In all my years of life, I have never seen so much snow at one time; two feet in my case. 

That much snow inevitably causes problems on several fronts. So, as the snow begins to melt away and we are able to once again get out and about, here are a few lessons I learned or was reminded of.

Let's Talk: Flying

So, on a recent trip out-of-town, I decided the most efficient way to get where I was headed was to fly. 

I don't fly often, so its quite natural that I would get nervous.

But I tried really hard to sit back and really take in this flight and not let my nerves get the best of me. So here a few things I realized during my flight:

Let's Talk: Domestic Violence in the NFL

In recent months, several high-profile NFL players have been under the microscope for incidents of domestic abuse.

Among the many names, the incidents that have received the most attention are Greg Hardy of the Dallas Cowboys and Ray Rice formerly with the Baltimore Ravens.