Holiday Slide - Legal or Not?

[RPatrino]

MLB.com Must C | Must C Collision: Holliday slides into Scutaro - Video | MLB.com: Multimedia
What say you? I am a Giants fan, so I will provide my biased, emotional opinion. Illegal slide, I have 2 outs.

[MD Longhorn]

Illegal slide in every level except this one. I, for one, wish MLB would adopt OBR rules. No, really - actually adopt them and not allow these kinds of collisions (both on DP's and on plate plays).

But in MLB, until things change - there was nothing wrong with this slide. Mattie gets one in the earhole next year, and we move on.

[rbmartin]

At Babe Ruth and FED games, I'm calling an illegal slide. At MLB level, the pitcher drills him in the ribs the next day and we play on.

[Rich]

In FED / NCAA games, this is a violation of the FPSR. First contact was made beyond the base.

But in MLB? It was a good, hard slide. And I disagree with the posts above -- nobody is going to take one in the ear hole for that slide. Those guys accept that it's the way the game's played.

[RPatrino]

There is slim to none rule support to call this slide illegal, in MLB. The middle infielders know that there is a potential for contact on the double play, so they need to take some responsibility for avoiding getting hurt. When you stay on the bag, you risk getting hit. Did Holliday slide late, yes. Did he use a rolling body block in an attempt to break up the double play and take out the pivot man, yes. I do not believe it was malicious, with the intent to injure. IF we see this in NFHS/NCAA or any other level of amateur ball, we will call it.

As for 'putting one in his ear hole', that is not appropriate. There is a MAJOR difference between contact on a double play and hitting a batter intentionally with a pitch. Scutaro has a sore hip and leg, he played on, and got his revenge. Hitting someone with a baseball could end a career or worse.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by RPatrino

As for 'putting one in his ear hole', that is not appropriate. There is a MAJOR difference between contact on a double play and hitting a batter intentionally with a pitch. Scutaro has a sore hip and leg, he played on, and got his revenge. Hitting someone with a baseball could end a career or worse.

I agree. I thought the Giant's response was perfect. Keep playing ball and let the bats do the talking.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by Rich

In FED / NCAA games, this is a violation of the FPSR. First contact was made beyond the base.

But in MLB? It was a good, hard slide. And I disagree with the posts above -- nobody is going to take one in the ear hole for that slide. Those guys accept that it's the way the game's played.

NOT a violation in NCAA. In NCAA you can go straight through the base. There's a diagram illustrating it.

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by Welpe

I agree. I thought the Giant's response was perfect. Keep playing ball and let the bats do the talking.

Perhaps. But players have long memories.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

NOT a violation in NCAA. In NCAA you can go straight through the base. There's a diagram illustrating it.

Yes, you can go through the base. But, you need to have a legal slide to do so. This wasn't (at that level).

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by RPatrino

As for 'putting one in his ear hole', that is not appropriate. There is a MAJOR difference between contact on a double play and hitting a batter intentionally with a pitch. Scutaro has a sore hip and leg, he played on, and got his revenge. Hitting someone with a baseball could end a career or worse.

I'm not suggesting they do so (like they are listening to me anyway). But this is the common reply to a perceived dirty play. We'd have seen it last night if this was not a playoff game. I'm not advocating it, but I'm expecting it.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

NOT a violation in NCAA. In NCAA you can go straight through the base. There's a diagram illustrating it.

True but the rolling over instead of remaining in a slide makes this no longer legal.

[M Anthony]

It was an illegal side.
"Illegal slide (rule 2-32) Interpretation is that the runner must be able to reach the base with a hand or foot or it is interference. Can't roll block or throw cross body block "
View the slow-mo here
2012 MLB Postseason | NLCS Game 2: Cardinals on Holliday's slide - Video | MLB.com: Multimedia
An obvious body block.
The base runner should have been ejected.

[Adam]

I love playoff time on the forum.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by M Anthony

It was an illegal side.
"Illegal slide (rule 2-32) Interpretation is that the runner must be able to reach the base with a hand or foot or it is interference. Can't roll block or throw cross body block "
View the slow-mo here
2012 MLB Postseason | NLCS Game 2: Cardinals on Holliday's slide - Video | MLB.com: Multimedia
An obvious body block.
The base runner should have been ejected.

Ejected? This isn't a kiddie game here.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

NOT a violation in NCAA. In NCAA you can go straight through the base. There's a diagram illustrating it.

Oh, there's a violation here. The path is the width of the base only and the contact is slightly to the left of the baseline -- with the contact occurring behind the base in this manner, I'm not giving the runner an inch of leeway. I'd call this in a heartbeat and feel quite good about it.