Jimmy Rollins has a vivid description of the infamous "dirty slide" that occurred during the 2015 NLDS.
During Game 2 of the series between the Dodgers and New York Mets, Chase Utley (who was traded to L.A. along with Rollins from Philly) was running towards second base when he slid into former Mets infielder Ruben Tejada, causing him to flip in the air and injure his right fibula.
On the latest episode of Unwritten: Behind Baseball's Secret Rules, Rollins said he already knew what was going to happen before the play even took place.
"Knowing who was on first base, I already knew what Chase was thinking," Rollins told his co-host Ron Darling. "Playing with him, having been in the dugout with him, having conversations, knowing what it's like when we're on the defensive side, hey, get me the ball fast cause you know who the base runner is. I already knew what was going to happen."
The former shortstop then explained why the play was in fact not a dirty play, citing that Tejada should've tried to protect himself rather than trying to turn the double play, knowing about Utley's "hustle" and "gritty" style of play.
"When you get to the point when your in the big leauges, you know who the baserunners are, you know who's coming in hard. The ball will tell you if your able to turn this double play or not. The ball was hit up the middle,[Daniel] Murphy makes a flip, its high and off to the left. Ruben is extending himself to make the play and step on the bag. I'm seeing it happen, I see chase coming down and 'm like this perfect because Chase is going to bust this up because no way in the world they're turning this double play. But the defensive side of me is I'm stepping on the bag, knowing who's coming down and using that bag as trampoline and getting out the way."
"The feed led into a point where I'm vulnerable, I can get hurt, there is nothing I can do. I'm torn because yes, I wanted the play to happen because I know how important that runner is on third, but at the same time it's like young man, protect yourself, you have to know that is going to happen."
In the aftermath of Utley's infamous slide, Tejada missed the rest of the Mets postseason run, Utley was handed down a two-game suspension from MLB, which he later overturned successfully.
However, the league decided to add yet another rule only two years after outlawing collisions at home plate. The new rule, added in 2016, banned runners sliding into second base from kicking, shoving or throwing their bodies into an oncoming infielder.
A year after the incident, Tejada was still mad at Utley and has every right as he was never really found his footing in the majors again.
“I know it’s part of the game, but not like that,” Tejada said. “I would never do that to another infielder. That is the position I play and I would never want to hurt another player that plays that position like that. It would have been different if some other position player, a corner infielder or an outfielder had done that to me, but he is a middle infielder, he should know better.”
Follow Jasper Jones on Twitter: @jonesj2342
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