Utley's Slide And Tejada's Injury: A Medical Breakdown
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Many Mets fans were shocked when they learned Chase Utley's now-infamous slide into Ruben Tejada would take him out for the season.
It's the slide that got Utley suspended, but what really happened to Tejada?
It's almost impossible to tell if you watch the video in real time, but if you slow down the video and watch it from just the right angle, you can get a better picture of what exactly happened during that playoff game.
Right as Tejada goes to pivot for a throw to first, he plants his right foot -- just as Utley slides into his lower leg. Then, Utley's leg leg catches Tejada's ankle while his spikes are planted in the ground.
The leg bone that broke is the thin outer bone of the leg -- the non-weight bearing fibula. Given that Utley's slide hit Tejada low on the leg, it's likely that the break occurred on or near the ankle.
Had the break been heavier -- on the tibula or shin bone, for example -- the injury would be more serious and harder to recover from.
Broken fibulas are usually the type of injuries that athletes can fully recover from, according to CBS2's Dr. Max Gomez.
So good news, Mets fans -- though he may out for the season, there's a chance he'll be back for spring training.
The Mets take on the Los Angeles Dodgers again tonight at Citi Field.
