Empire Writes Back
Fansided

New York Mets See Chase Utley Suspension Dropped

By Kenneth Teape

Oct 10, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; New York Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada (11) collides with Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley (26) at second base during the seventh inning in game two of the NLDS at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; New York Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada (11) collides with Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley (26) at second base during the seventh inning in game two of the NLDS at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The New York Mets will see a dirty deed go unpunished, as Chase Utley had his two-game suspension from his slide against Ruben Tejada dropped.

The New York Mets made a surprise run to the 2015 World Series, eventually falling to the Kansas City Royals. One of the turning moments for the Mets in the postseason came in the National League Division series when they played against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In Game 2 of the series, Chase Utley went hard into second base to try and break up a double play that was being attempted to be turned by Ruben Tejada. Utley barrel rolled into Tejada, as the ‘slide’ was considered dirty by many. Also, after being ruled out initially on the play, the umpires deemed Utley to be safe after a video replay as it was determined that Tejada didn’t touch the base. The Dodgers greatly benefited, as they would rally in that seventh inning to score four runs, eventually winning the game 5-2.

In addition to losing the game, the Mets also lost their starting shortstop. Tejada would have his leg broken on the play, and miss the remainder of the postseason. It was something that bothered many players on the team, as Kelly Johnson described the play as a tackle, and second baseman Daniel Murphy said, “Calling it a slide would be generous.”

Tejada became someone for the Mets and their fans to rally around, as his season was cut short with an injury. Despite catching the ire of many within the organization and fan base throughout his tenure with the Mets, Tejada became a sentimental figure throughout the playoff run.

While there was nothing to do about the broken bone that Tejada suffered, it was announced that Utley would receive a two-game suspension for his actions. He would not miss as much time as Tejada, but it was something at least.

But, the Mets will not even get any consolation in seeing Utley suspended, as his two-game suspension has been dropped by Major League Baseball sources confirmed to ESPN New York’s Adam Rubin and ESPN’s Pedro Gomez. It is an odd ruling, but one that does not seem to be having any impact on Tejada, who is fighting for a roster spot on the Mets’ bench this spring.

“I don’t care really,” Tejada said. “I don’t care. I care about me. I’m healthy here. I’m happy here. So I don’t care about what’s going to happen there or what’s the decision they take there.”

While Tejada took the high road, this is probably something that will peeve the Mets. They have a player of their own that was facing a suspension to start the season in reliever Hansel Robles. His suspension was reduced from three to two games earlier this year after an incident with the Philadelphia Phillies’ Cameron Rupp in late September; Robles threw in the direction of Rupp’s head with a quick pitch, but did not hit him with the pitch.

More ny sports: What was the biggest Mets trade in the last 20 years?

General manager Sandy Alderson had some choice words for the situation, saying, “As long as they’re dropping penalties, they might as well drop his,” in reference to Robles. Right now that seems unlikely, as the Mets will probably be without Robles for the first two games of the season against the Kansas City Royals.

Home/New York Mets