The National League Division Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets moves back to Flushing for Game 3 on Monday. I can't even imagine what Chase Utley's reception is going to be like.
Think about it: Utley already tormented Mets fans for years from the middle of the Phillies lineup. The 36-year-old second baseman is sporting an .897 OPS to go along with 35 home runs against New York in his career. Tom McCarthy even dubbed part of Citi Field "Utley's Corner" because he hit so many homers in that spot! Then, he gets traded to the Dodgers and immediately does this in the Mets' first playoff series since 2006:
On the play, Howie Kendrick grounded a ball to second into what initially was ruled a fielder's choice. A runner scored from third and tied the game at 2, but Utley was called out. Utley's takeout slide, which didn't even involve an attempt at touching second base, caused Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada to be carted off the field. Somehow, Utley wasn't given a concussion test despite clearly slamming his head on the ground.
To make matters worse for the Mets, the umpires later changed the call to rule Utley safe at second. Tejada never touched the bag and wasn't granted the neighborhood play. All of this, despite Utley never touching the bag either and running off the field before the play was over. Heck, there is an argument to be made the call should've been a double play. If that happened, the Mets would have escaped the inning still up 2-1.
Utley would come around to score the go-ahead run, and the Dodgers won the game, 5-2. Safe to say people are going to be talking about this play for a while.
Stay safe in New York, Chase.
Follow Rich on Twitter: @rich_hofmann