12/21/24
April 09, 2011
Swisher Slide Breaks Nishioka's Leg: A hard slide by New York Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher broke Minnesota Twins second baseman Tsuyoshi Nishioka's leg Thursday. Nishioka suffered a fractured left fibula and has been placed on the disabled list. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire defended Swisher. "That's just a good baseball slide, trying to break up a double play," he said. "There's no intent there." See the play on MLB.Com.
Now, as a Twins fan, I'm obviously a bit biased on this call. However, while the slide may be nothing out of the ordinary, Swisher clearly hits a guy 3 feet away from the bag, on a slide that was not directed toward the bag. At the 49 second mark of the replay you can clearly see Swisher getting his left leg up, and taking a kick at Nishioka. Was it the most aggrieving slide ever? No, but it seems a bit more than just trying to break up the play. The Twins have moved on, not that it really does them any good to complain, so I will too.
Sucks for the Twins, just too injury prone of late.
posted by dviking at 05:07 PM on April 09, 2011
Seemed like a pretty innocuous play. Definitely trying to take his feet out, but it's weird that Nishioka didn't leave his feet on the throw. That's traditionally the way to handle the take-out slide on the double play. That or come aggressively across the bag and make the throw well outside the base line. Just a flook it looked like. The slide wasn't even very hard.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 10:36 AM on April 10, 2011
However, while the slide may be nothing out of the ordinary, Swisher clearly hits a guy 3 feet away from the bag, on a slide that was not directed toward the bag.
So, it sounds like you're saying that there should be a rule against all slides like that, no matter what teams are involved. Yes?
posted by lil_brown_bat at 10:32 AM on April 11, 2011
well, maybe just better enforcement of the rules already in place.
Odd, with all the emphasis on player safety recently, I would think this would be an easy fix. Yes, Swisher touches the bag, so part of the rules are satisfied there, however, his shin is far more than 3 feet from the bag, his leg was raised, and it was a deliberate attempt to take the fielder out of the play. Umpire has a judgement call, and precedent is that they rarely make the interference call in the Majors. I'm sure the Twins didn't object too much because they instruct their players to execute the same slide.
posted by dviking at 11:37 AM on April 11, 2011
well, maybe just better enforcement of the rules already in place.
And not selectively enforced, depending on whose ox is gored, yes?
It's very hard to start enforcing a rule when you have a history of ignoring violations with a nod and a wink.
Odd, with all the emphasis on player safety recently
In baseball? What have I missed?
Umpire has a judgement call, and precedent is that they rarely make the interference call in the Majors.
Here's a recent example.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 12:10 PM on April 11, 2011
In baseball? What have I missed?
The new concussion protocol.
posted by rcade at 12:24 PM on April 11, 2011
Oh. Yes. Duh. Carry on...
posted by lil_brown_bat at 03:18 PM on April 11, 2011
Umpire has a judgement call, and precedent is that they rarely make the interference call in the Majors.
Kevin Youkilis was called for interference on a slide at 2nd in last night's game. By the letter of the rule, he appeared to have been able to reach the bag with his hand, although he was well to the outfield side of 2nd. I would have called the interference in a high school game, but I've not seen it called that tightly in the majors. Could there be a renewed emphasis on this call as a result of Swisher's action?
On the Swisher play, he made contact well beyond the bag, and to me it was clearly interference.
posted by Howard_T at 05:05 PM on April 11, 2011
Could there be a renewed emphasis on this call as a result of Swisher's action?
Possibly - the call from the Jays game that I cited happened yesterday.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 07:16 PM on April 11, 2011
Swisher's a good egg, and seemed genuinely upset at what happened...an unfortunate situation, but really, not that out of the ordinary.
People want to blame this on some cultural difference, but Nishioka says he's seen that slide before in Japan and just seemed too focused on making the out rather than saving his body...not the first time an athlete's done that.