Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing reminded baseball fans of a simpler time with a perfectly executed slide Tuesday night against the Pirates. Unfortunately, it was only ‘perfectly executed’ from about 1930 through 2016. Nowadays, what Rushing did in the fifth inning of Tuesday’s eventual win over Pittsburgh is deemed illegal.

Rule Change

Major League Baseball changed the sliding rules about a decade ago after Chase Utley famously tried to break Mets shortstop Rubén Tejada in half during the 2015 NLDS. The new rule, known as the ‘Chase Utley slide rule,’ requires a runner to make a ‘bona fide slide,’ which is defined as making contact with the ground before reaching the base, being able to and attempting to reach the base with a hand or foot, being able to and attempting to remain on the base at the completion of the slide (except at home plate) and not changing his path for the purpose of initiating contact with a fielder.

Rushing’s slide did not meet these requirements, as he did not come close to the base and appeared to be attempting to take out the shortstop. The umpires easily called him out, and the play was not reviewed.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.