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| Utley being Utley and playing hard has sparked controversy. |
In what is now being called a "controversial play" that is headlining every site on the internet (including Yahoo and ESPN), Utley may have unwittingly altered the course of the MLB playoffs with one single pinch hit appearance in game 2 of the NLDS, now tied at 1-game-apiece between the Dodgers and Mets.
The play occurred with one out in the seventh inning Saturday night and the Dodgers trailing 2-1 and 1-0 in the series. Utley's single was the first hit of the inning for L.A. and sparked the 4 runs they would score in the inning to even the series at a game apiece. Utley's run scored was the go-ahead game winner.
ESPN's David Schoenfield posted "UTLEY'S SLIDE BROKE THE RULES." He asserts that Utley's play that ended with Ruben Tejada leaving with a fractured right fibula has nothing to do with "'the way the game has always been played.' We evolve. Let's play the game the right way ... clean and fair and by the rules." Should have been out.
Adam Rubin, ESPN: "Old nemesis Chase Utley is still haunting the New York Mets."
More analysis and video of the slide here:
http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/64112/saturdays-top-5-the-slide-heard-round-the-baseball-world
Meanwhile, Cole Hamels of the Rangers put the heavily favored to win-it-all Toronto Blue Jays on the brink of elimination Friday when he posted a 7-inning 2-run start walking nobody and striking out 6 in Toronto.
Other ex-Phils factoring heavily in this postseason include middle relief pitcher Jake Diekman (who went to Texas in the Hamels trade), who has been impeccable vs. Toronto this postseason: 4 innings pitched over the 2 games, 3 S.O., 0 BB and reliever Ryan Madson, who helped the Royals tie their series vs. Houston Friday with a 2 S.O. 8th inning appearance reminiscent of 2008.
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