Braves’ Fredi G. on ‘Chase Utley’ rule: ‘It’s a bad rule’

“I get it: people are protecting second basemen and shortstops,” Gonzalez said. “On paper it looks good, this is going to help. But on a practical matter, it doesn’t translate.”

The Braves were the first team to be affected by the rule when Nick Markakis was judged to have violated it on opening day.

Second base umpire Paul Nauert ruled that Markakis deliberately interfered with Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy on Hector Olivera’s ground ball in the seventh inning. Olivera beat Murphy’s throw to first but both he and Markakis were called out.

The next day, the Blue Jays lost 3-2 to the Rays when replay umpires in New York determined that Jose Bautista violated the rule. The two outs erased the go-ahead run for the Blue Jays and ended the game.

“The other (rules) are one out,” Gonzalez said. “This is two outs. It happened yesterday, and it happened to us.”

Interference already was against the rules but baseball added language that defines a “bona fide” slide with the hope of more consistent interpretation by umpires. According to the rule, the runner must begin his slide before reaching the base; be able to reach the base and attempt to do so; remain on the base after the slide (with the exception of home plate), and slide within reach of the base without changing his path for the purpose of contacting the fielder.

With the adoption of the slide rule, fielders no longer are to be awarded outs on so-called “neighborhood plays” in which the pivot man on a double play doesn’t touch the base before throwing for the second out.