Hardy and Schoop talk about the new rules on slides

A topic of conversation in the Orioles clubhouse today was the slide by Toronto's Jose Bautista last night that was ruled as illegal because it was determined Bautista tried to grab the leg of Rays second baseman Logan Forsythe, interfering with him.

Originally, two runs scored on the ninth-inning play at second base and Toronto moved ahead of Tampa Bay 4-3. Then, after a replay review, the slide was ruled illegal, the play was changed, two outs were ruled and the game was over with Tampa Bay winning 3-2.

Walk-off replay.

Here's the official wording of the new rule:

"If a runner does not engage in a bona fide slide, and initiates (or attempts to make) contact with the fielder for the purpose of breaking up a double play, he should be called for interference under this Rule 6.01. A 'bona fide slide' for purposes of Rule 6.01 occurs when the runner:

"(1) begins his slide (i.e., makes contact with the ground) before reaching the base;
"(2) is able and attempts to reach the base with his hand or foot;
"(3) is able and attempts to remain on the base (except home plate) after completion of the slide; and
"(4) slides within reach of the base without changing his pathway for the purpose of initiating contact with a fielder."

Orioles shorstop J.J. Hardy was asked about the play and rule this afternoon.

"We'll see," he said. "I saw the play and, I mean, I don't think it was that bad. Then again, I guess (Bautista) broke the rules. He reached for (Forsythe), but it didn't look like he was going into there trying to hurt him or anything. That is where I kind of feel that the line should be drawn. It didn't look bad, but it's the rule now and we've got to do it.

"We've talked about it a little bit as a team and we understand what the rules are and just need to, I guess, slide correctly. We've heard the rules, so we know what they are. It's just a matter of doing it. I think we've done it this (one other) way a long time."

Hardy feels sliding into second base will now involve an adjustment for some players, like Adam Jones.

"It's going to be different for guys like Jonesy who go in hard and get to the guy pretty much every time there is a double play opportunity. He's definitely going to have to change the way he slides," Hardy said. "But, I mean, it's just you can't reach for him, you have to slide towards the bag and basically stay on the bag. I think if you are not going in there trying to kill the middle infielder, I think you should be all right."

When a few reporters approached second baseman Jonathan Schoop to get his take, he said he had not yet seen the play, but had talked to Hardy about it.

Players like Hardy and Schoop have to get up to speed on the new rule both as fielders, but also as runners. What have the O's players been told about the new rule when they are runners?

"They told us you can go a certain point and if you can touch the bag, that is still legal," Schoop said. "And you have to keep low, you cannot go high. And if you can touch the bag, that's legal."

When asked if this will create more, not less, contact between fielders and runners, Schoop seemed to be fine if that turns out to be the case. He is a big guy and the way he turns a double play, he usually tries to position himself on the left field side of second base, away from the runner coming in to try and break up a double play.

"I think, for me, it's easier," Schoop said. "I use the bag for protection and now they cannot come get you. They have to stay somewhere they can touch the bag. I stay there and let the bag protect me."

Orioles infielders could be busy tonight. Right-hander Yovani Gallardo will make his O's debut and he ranked 12th among qualifying American League starters last year in groundball percentage at 50.8 percent. Since 2014, he ranks seventh among all major league starting pitchers in ground balls (617).

"Yeah, I played behind him for a couple of years in Milwaukee," Hardy said. "I think he's maybe a little bit different pitcher now than he was than. But he does get a lot of ground balls and should be fun. Keeps us on our toes."