On Tuesday the most prominent example of the new MLB slide rule truly effecting the outcome of a game was experienced.
The Toronto Blue Jays lost a chance at winning their game against the Tampa Bay Rays after a Jose Bautista slide at second base was ruled illegal, taking two runs off the board and ending their game in a 3-2 loss.
The Jays were trailing the Rays 3-2 and had the bases loaded with one out in the ninth. Jose Bautista was the runner at first after a walk, and the next batter, Edwin Encarnacion, grounded a ball to third. Evan Longoria threw to second baseman Logan Forsythe for the force out, but Forsythe made an errant throw to first that helped Toronto plate two runs to go up 4-3:
#Rays go from down to out: https://t.co/MOs0Ak2OOu #ChevyBaseballhttps://t.co/Nop4ngLsiC
— MLB (@MLB) April 6, 2016
However, the Rays received a call from their video guy informing them that they should ask the umps to review Bautista’s slide into second.
So the #BlueJays lost because Bautista slid into 2nd, and his hand grazes Forsythe’s foot. pic.twitter.com/z8Ow8xWtV0
— Faizal Khamisa (@SNFaizalKhamisa) April 6, 2016
The umpires ruled that Bautista made contact with Forsythe and grabbed his foot. They called him out and Encarnacion was also ruled out, giving Tampa Bay a game-ending double play.
Jays manager John Gibbons was furious about the call:
Jays manager John Gibbons on walkoff reversal vs. Rays: "What are we, turning the game into a joke? It's a flat-out embarrassment."
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) April 6, 2016
Gibbons, asked about safety aspect of MLB slide rule in key reversal vs. Rays: "I guess we'll come out wearing dresses tomorrow."
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) April 6, 2016
Bautista for his part defended his slide:
Jays' Jose Bautista on final reversal: "Just because the rule has changed … I didn't think it was illegal to make contact."
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) April 6, 2016
Bautista: "I felt like I respected the rule. I felt it was absolutely a clean slide." Said it's "embarrassing" to lose a game that way …
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) April 6, 2016
"Common sense has to come into this," Bautista said "I feel like I slid directly at the bag. I could have done much worse and chose not to."
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) April 6, 2016
Bautista on slide and reversal: "I let my instincts take over. Did I reach out to make him avoid me? Perhaps. Was that an illegal slide?"
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) April 6, 2016
Should the call have been overturned? It’s a close one. If you look at the new slide rule, it seems Bautista’s slide may have been legal:
According to @MLB's new rule 6.01(j), Bautista's slide satisfied the "bona fide slide" requirements. pic.twitter.com/Bvd2MPdde9
— Jerry (@NorthYorkJays) April 6, 2016
