Quote:
Originally Posted by KC_Connection
Two things:
1. Yes, by the book, it's definitely interference. But technically so was barreling into fielders as they were throwing the ball and runners have done that for years with no repercussions. If this was 2015, what Bautista did yesterday is not getting called interference.
#2. As you mentioned, though, they actually cited the new Utley rule in making the decision. It appears they deemed what he did with his arm to be an intentional initiation of contact and said it wasn't a bona fide slide on that basis.
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It should have been illegal previously also. I still think the arm whip to foot was key but if he didn't do that the throw doesn't go 15 ft widewide of the bag, game over. Worth the gamble I guess.