The Houston Astros lost their game on Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers when a slide by Colby Rasmus was ruled illegal, and they are understandably upset.
Rasmus was ruled to have made a hazardous slide into second base on a ground ball, which resulted in him and batter Jose Altuve being called out for the final two outs of their game in a 6-4 loss (see the play here).
The slide was reviewed and the call was upheld, but that doesn’t matter much to the Astros. Manager A.J. Hinch called the situation “a joke.”
Hinch: "It is a joke we lost the game based on that when there wasn’t intent or contact. It was a baseball slide.”
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) April 9, 2016
Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel questioned the rule as well:
Are we even playing baseball anymore??? #unbelievable
— Dallas Keuchel (@kidkeuchy) April 9, 2016
Rasmus, who made the slide that was considered illegal, was left perplexed.
Rasmus: "I don’t see much wrong with that slide."
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) April 9, 2016
We heard similar comments from the Blue Jays after their game against the Rays this week ended on Jose Bautista’s illegal slide.
It’s clear MLB is trying to make a statement that take-out slides are no longer acceptable. Despite all their bellyaching, teams will just have to adjust.
