New York Mets History: Chase Utley Breaks Ruben Tejada's Leg
The New York Mets made the World Series last year, but there were a couple of bad breaks along the way. One of them happened on this day last year, when Chase Utley broke Reuben Tejada’s leg on a hard slide at second.
Over the past few years, the MLB has passed a number of rules to try to make the game safer. Home plate collisions are no longer permitted; likewise, catchers cannot block the plate to keep a runner from scoring. This year, a new rule was instituted that punishes those who slide past the base, causing an out if they make contact with the infielder.
That rule came about due to what happened on this day last year. The New York Mets were facing the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second game of the National League Division Series. Former division rival, Chase Utley, now playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers, was on first when Howie Kendrick grounded into a fielder’s choice. Ruben Tejada went to cover second, taking the flip from Daniel Murphy and looked to turn the double play.
Utley, however, barreled into the bag. He started his slide when he was about even with second base, aiming for Tejada’s legs to break up the potential twin killing. It worked, as Tejada was unable to release the ball, but that slide came with a price, as the Mets shortstop was lost for the postseason with a broken leg.
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That slide came with consequences for Utley as well. While the Dodgers won that game to even the series, Utley was suspended for two games as a result of his deliberate takeout of Tejada. As the Mets prevailed in five games, one had to wonder if Utley’s bat in the lineup would have made a difference and led to Los Angeles advancing instead.
The MLB also instituted the rule where a runner must remain in contact with the base or an out is called for interference. This rule played a key factor in several games at the beginning of the 2016 campaign, as teams ended up on both sides of the ledger, winning one game and losing another due to the new rule.
Slides like Utley’s showed the difference in the way the game used to be played, and the way player safety has changed. That slide, even thirty years ago, would not have been outside the norm. However, as both teams and the league want to protect their investments, player safety has become increasingly important. Barreling into a defenseless fielder, as Tejada was, needed to be taken from the game.
On this day last year, the New York Mets were dealt a huge blow when Ruben Tejada broke his leg during the NLDS. That slide by Utley led to a few changes after the season.
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