Almost a month ago, Chris Coghlan changed the Pittsburgh Pirates season. While sliding into second base, Coghlan collided with Pirates shortstop Jung Ho Kang, breaking his leg and ending his season.
Saturday night, the Dodgers’ Chase Utley slid into Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada, ending his season. Sunday, Utley was suspended for the next two games.
Chase Utley slide. Dayum! pic.twitter.com/m4mlQSEsVd — BLACK ADAM SCHEFTER (@B1ackSchefter) October 11, 2015
Because of the similar results from both slides, plenty of Pirates fans expressed their anger that Coghlan wasn’t given a similar punishment.
Twitter exploded with Pirates fans anger.
Yep doc. Y wasnt coghlan suspended https://t.co/1nmN3zMJ0H
— Corey Jones (@bucfancj29) October 12, 2015
Utley and Coghlan should be suspended until Tejada and Kang return to the starting lineup of their respective teams
— CHRIS ARCHER SZN🏹 (@BuccoMania) October 12, 2015
How come coghlan wasnt suspended for his slide on kang
— Corey Jones (@bucfancj29) October 12, 2015
Chris Coghlan received death threats following controversial slide
Hey everybody, Coghlan wasn't suspended for no other reason than Joe Maddon said it was part of the game. I mean, it must be true
— Buckles (@MusefulBuckles) October 12, 2015
Chase Utley gets suspended 2 games. Chris Coghlan gets zilch for doing the same thing to Kang. Gotcha MLB.
— John (@steelirish33) October 12, 2015
Why wasn't that degenerate Coghlan suspended for breaking Kang's leg? Smh
— Jimmy (@jk13_pgh) October 12, 2015
So if Kang got injured in a playoff game, Coghlan gets suspended.... I mean Utley deserved the suspension, but so did Coghlan.
— Erik Lechner (@LechALection) October 12, 2015
@MLB so why wasn't Coghlan suspended for his slide on Kang?
— Jennifer (@itsjennyv3) October 12, 2015
@NeilWeinberg44 Coghlan not suspended. This has gone unpunished forever. Going forward torre should have said its a suspendible offense.
— WanderFrancophile (@ccsawruthgibson) October 12, 2015
@MLB when is coghlan getting suspended?
— JH (@JonnyBlaze18) October 12, 2015
Clearly, the pain from how the Pirates season ended is still fresh for many Pirates fans. The fact that they lost in the Wild Card game against the Cubs likely makes it even worse.
Of course, assuming that removing Coghlan from the Cubs or adding Kang would have changed the five run game seems unusual. Coghlan hit well below .200 after the injury and Kang’s replacement Jordy Mercer finished the season strong.
