New slide rule already causing stir; review rings up Bautista, costs Jays

Tom Gatto

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New slide rule already causing stir; review rings up Bautista, costs Jays image

Jose Bautista broke up a double play at a crucial moment Tuesday night. His maneuver led to a throwing error that gave his Blue Jays a ninth-inning lead.

Enter modern baseball rules to say otherwise.

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Bautista was called out for interference upon video review, based on the new rule for slides into bases. Umpires ruled his hand hit the leg of Rays second baseman Logan Forsythe and caused the bad throw. The batter, Edwin Encarnacion, was also called out (the final out, in fact), the runs came off the board, and the Rays had a 3-2 win.

Umpires applied Rule 6.01(j), which was drawn up in response to Chase Utley's dirty slide in last year's NL Division Series. Bautista's move didn't threaten Forsythe's health, but the replay showed he did enough to merit an interference call.

(UPDATE: Umpire crew chief Mike Everitt told a pool reporter (per the Tampa Bay Times) that the replay umps in New York gave him this explanation: "After viewing all relevant angles the replay official definitely determined that the runner violated Rule 601 J. The runner's actions hindered and impeded the fielder. Additionally, he did not engage in a bona fide slide as he did not attempt to remain on the base.")

SPECTOR: Correct application of rule dooms Yankees

Naturally, the losing side thought the whole thing was ridiculous.

Bautista was more diplomatic, but he still disagreed with the call.

Rule 6.10(j), in full. The 7.14 refers to a previous rule:

 

Tom Gatto

Tom Gatto Photo

Tom Gatto joined The Sporting News as a senior editor in 2000 after 12 years at The Herald-News in Passaic, N.J., where he served in a variety of roles including sports editor, and a brief spell at APBNews.com in New York, where he worked as a syndication editor. He is a 1986 graduate of the University of South Carolina.