De Blasio: Chase Utley Is 'Guilty As Sin,' Should Serve Suspension
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- It seems everyone has an opinion about Chase Utley's hard slide, and Mayor Bill de Blasio is no different.
Asked Monday about the controversial play -- in which the Dodger left Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada while trying to break up a double play Saturday night -- the fired-up mayor said he was "astounded." De Blasio called it a "tackle," adding it was "illegal" and "sickening," WCBS 880's Marla Diamond reported.
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Major League Baseball suspended Utley for games 3 and 4 of the National League Division Series, but the Dodgers second baseman quickly appealed. CBSSports.com/WFAN baseball insider Jon Heyman reported that the appeal likely won't be heard Monday, meaning Utley could be in the lineup when the teams play at 8:37 p.m. at Citi Field.
"He can appeal all he wants, but he's guilty as sin," de Blasio said at the annual Columbus Day Parade in Manhattan.
De Blasio, a Red Sox fan, added that Major League Baseball should deny any appeal.
"He should serve that suspension, and the rules are pretty clear. He shouldn't have done it," the mayor said. "But if Major League Baseball needs to tighten up their rules, they should, because that's just not how the game's supposed to be played."